Maxfield headed to Saratoga, eyes start in Whitney
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Maxfield came out of his emphatic Saturday victory in the Grade 2 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs in fine shape and will be among the Brendan Walsh stable shipping Monday to Saratoga.
Maxfield earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the Foster by 3 1/4 lengths under Jose Ortiz. The Godolphin homebred now has won 7 of 8 career starts, with his only defeat coming in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 6.
Walsh has not yet publicly committed Maxfield to the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 7 at Saratoga, but all signs point that way. Walsh said in the Foster aftermath that he didn’t want to “tempt fate,” given the unlucky stoppages that have interrupted the colt’s racing career.
“He’s taught us not to get too far ahead of ourselves,” Walsh said.
In any case, it’s clear that Maxfield has emerged as a prime candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, for which the Street Sense colt was awarded an expenses-paid berth via his Foster win. In fact, Godolphin has three of the top prospects for the BC Classic on Nov. 6 at Del Mar, with Mystic Guide and Essential Quality being the other two.
Jimmy Bell, who oversees American operations for Godolphin, said before the Foster that he suspected Maxfield would turn in a big effort.
“It seems like since he got beat at Santa Anita, he’s really turned a corner,” Bell said. “It’s like it woke him up, maybe even toughened him up. He is really on his game right now.”
Walsh is vanning 15 of his top horses from Kentucky to Saratoga, which starts July 15. Churchill is closing its barn area, effective July 5 and through Sept. 8, for a massive overhaul of its turf course. Walsh also will have strings at Ellis Park and Keeneland for the immediate future.
Meanwhile, Letruska is back at Keeneland after posting an easy win in the other Win and You’re In event here Saturday, the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis. Trainer Fausto Gutierrez also is being coy with the next start for the 5-year-old mare, although the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on the Aug. 28 Travers card at Saratoga is an obvious option.