Maxfield to return from lengthy layoff in Tenacious Stakes

The 3-year-old colt Maxfield, unraced since May, will make his first start following the second long layoff of his brief career in the $75,000 Tenacious Stakes, the last of 13 races Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Maxfield, a Godolphin homebred by Street Sense, has won all three of his starts, capturing his career debut, a one-turn mile in autumn 2019 at Churchill, before romping in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. He was set to start as one of the favorites in the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile when an ankle injury forced him to be scratched days before the race. Maxfield dominated the good 3-year-olds Ny Traffic and Pneumatic in the Matt Winn Stakes in May at Churchill, his first post-injury start, but hurt himself again, fracturing a cannon bone during a workout at Keeneland.

Soundness might be all that stands between Maxfield and an exciting 4-year-old campaign during 2021, but trainer Brendan Walsh isn’t looking past the 1 1/16-mile Tenacious, where Maxfield figures heavily favored over six foes.

“It’ll be nice to get him out there and see where we’re at with him,” Walsh said. “The obvious races are all in mind for next year, but we’ll see where Saturday goes. He’s taught us not to be thinking too far ahead.”

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The Tenacious is the last of six stakes on an excellent card populated only by maiden special weight, allowance, and stakes races. First post is an early noon Central.

Scherer recovering from stroke

Veteran trainer Merrill Scherer suffered a stroke at his home Sunday evening, his son, trainer Gary Scherer, said Wednesday.

The elder Scherer, who is 81, remained hospitalized as of Wednesday, his son said, but there was hope he could soon be moved from the intensive care unit into a private room.

“He’s getting a little better now,” Gary Scherer said. “He’s going to have a lot of rehab.”

Gary Scherer’s brother, trainer Richie Scherer, died in May 2017 from cancer. A race named in his honor is part of the Saturday racing program at Fair Grounds.

Purses raised 10 percent

Fair Grounds, which began its 2020-21 meeting on Thanksgiving, announced a 10 percent purse increase this past weekend that goes into effect Jan. 1.

Scott Jones, racing secretary at the track, said before the meet that Fair Grounds hoped to offer $50,000 maiden special weight purses this season, and the January bump raises such races from $47,000 to that level. Allowance races also got a $3,000 boost, while all other races, both open and Louisiana-breds, will have their purses raised $2,000, according to a press release from the track.