Maxfield cruises in Breeders' Futurity to give Walsh first Grade 1 win

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Maxfield stamped himself as a major player for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile when giving trainer Brendan Walsh the first Grade 1 victory of his training career with a sensational rally Saturday in the 106th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland.

“He’s a very special horse,” Walsh said after Maxfield, ridden by Jose Ortiz, rallied from ninth in a field of 10 to win the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Futurity by 5 1/2 lengths.

A Godolphin homebred colt by Street Sense, Maxfield was making just the second start of his career after winning a Sept. 14 maiden race at Walsh’s primary base, Churchill Downs. He returned $14.80 as fourth choice after finishing in 1:44.21 over a fast track and earned a Win and You’re In berth into the Nov. 1 BC Juvenile at Santa Anita.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2019: See DRF’s top contenders

Gouverneur Morris, the 3-2 favorite under Javier Castellano, finished second, a half-length before Enforceable. It was another five lengths back to Ajaaweed in fourth.

After settling toward the rear of a strung-out field down the backside, Maxfield began gaining on the others approaching the half-mile pole. Without much urging from Ortiz, the colt suddenly went from second-to-last to challenging Gouverneur Morris for the lead at the quarter-pole. There was no resistance, as Maxfield drew off by himself.

“He was there for me the whole time,” said Ortiz.

Gouverneur Morris, also making just his second start after a flashy maiden win last month for Todd Pletcher, had made a nifty outside move ahead of Maxfield to momentarily seize command, but the gray Constitution colt was no match in the final furlong.

“We were second-best,” said Castellano.

The Irish-born Walsh, 46, has worked through the years in various capacities for Godolphin, including in Europe and the Middle East, but he only recently began overseeing a small string for the world powerhouse.

“I’ve been around a lot of good horses,” said Walsh. “Good horses breathe different air, and I think this horse is right there. Thank God we have this horse.”

Walsh had won 16 graded races in North America since starting his training career in 2012, but this was his first Grade 1.

“I always knew it would be special, but to win it here for these people [Godolphin], it’s extra special,” he said. “Fantastic. Indescribable.”

Walsh said Maxfield will run next in the BC Juvenile, barring something unforeseen. “If you don’t bring him, who do you bring?” he said.

Tap It to Win, the 3-1 second choice who gave closest chase to front-running American Butterfly through the opening six furlongs, was eased down the stretch after faltering badly on the turn.

The $2 exacta (6-10) paid $50.20, the $1 trifecta (6-10-5) returned $262.10, and the 10-cent superfecta (6-10-5-8) was worth $85.62.