Maxfield works a final time; all set for the Clark

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Maxfield was sent through the final timed workout of his outstanding career when prepping early Friday for the Grade 1 Clark with a five-furlong breeze in 1:01.20 over a fast track at Churchill Downs.

Maxfield, a Grade 1 winner of more than $1.55 million in 10 career starts, will face the standout 3-year-old Midnight Bourbon and a handful of older horses Friday (Nov. 26) in the $750,000 Clark, the annual fall highlight at Churchill. Friday entries will be drawn Sunday.

Trainer Brendan Walsh said all the heavy lifting is now complete toward having Maxfield ready for the 147th Clark, the apex of a busy closing week to the 21-day fall meet at Churchill. The 1 1/8-mile Clark will be the last race for Maxfield before he goes to stud next year at Darley.

“Maxfield just cruises over this racetrack,” said Walsh, alluding in part to the Street Sense colt’s 4-for-4 record at Churchill. “He’s doing everything great leading into this race, we’ll be ready to go come Friday.”

Jose Ortiz will be in from New York when stopping over at Churchill to ride Maxfield in the Clark before moving on to Del Mar for the balance of the Thanksgiving weekend. Ortiz has been the regular rider for Maxfield, a 4-year-old Godolphin homebred, for most of the colt’s career, including in all four Churchill wins.

:: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures.

Midnight Bourbon, the Steve Asmussen-trained standout, will be ridden for the first time by Joel Rosario, who is gunning for records in stakes wins and mount earnings in a single year. Rosario replaces Ricardo Santana Jr., who has ridden the Tiznow colt in his last two starts but has fallen out of favor with Asmussen in recent weeks.

The Clark is one of six stakes set for a busy final weekend. The Grade 2, $500,000 Falls City, the traditional Thanksgiving Day feature, will be the first of those Thursday. Bonny South, Envoutante, and Crystal Ball are among the fillies and mares expected, with Rosario riding Army Wife. Special first post Thursday is 11:30 a.m. Eastern.

The Kentucky Jockey Club and Golden Rod, Grade 2 twins, will anchor a Saturday program exclusively for 2-year-olds. Two sprint stakes, the Fern Creek and Lively Shively, also will be run for the first time. Rosario has the mount in the KJC on likely favorite Classic Causeway, third as the favorite last month in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland.

The Fern Creek and Lively Shively effectively replace longstanding turf fixtures such as the Mrs. Revere, Cardinal, and River City, at least for this year. Those races are on hiatus because the turf course has been unavailable due to a renovation that began in late June and is scheduled to be complete by the 2022 spring meet.

Next Sunday (Nov. 28) is closing day, with Turfway in northern Kentucky starting up four months of winter action on Dec. 2.

◗ Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas submitted his first claim at Churchill since 2005 when he won a seven-way shake last Sunday for Miacomet, the winner of a $50,000 maiden-claiming race. Lukas, 86, haltered the 3-year-old Flatter colt on behalf of owner Dennis W. Gray Jr.

◗ The first of five pools in the 2022 Kentucky Derby Future Wager will be open Thursday through Sunday next week, along with the annual Derby Sires Wager. The 23-name rosters for both parimutuel wagers are scheduled for release Monday.