Maxfield works toward Stephen Foster

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Maxfield, the Godolphin standout with six wins from seven career starts, continues to train forwardly at Keeneland in preparing for the Grade 2 Stephen Foster, which anchors the closing-day card at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old Street Sense colt went five furlongs Friday in 1:01 in his fourth breeze since a rousing victory here April 30 in the Grade 2 Alysheba.

Nominations for the Foster and all other closing-day stakes were to close Saturday night. Besides the Foster and Fleur de Lis, both Win and You’re In events toward the Nov. 5-6 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, five other stakes will be run on the June 26 finale. They are the Grade 2 Wise Dan for older turf horses; the War Chant and Tepin for 3-year-old turf horses; and the Grade 3 Bashford Manor and Debutante for 2-year-olds.

◗ Whitmore, the reigning sprint champion, breezed a half-mile in 48 seconds Sunday at Churchill and could make his next start here in the Kelly’s Landing, a $110,000 overnight stakes at seven furlongs on June 25, according to trainer Ron Moquett. The other option for Whitmore is to wait until the Vanderbilt, a Grade 1 race at six furlongs on July 31 at Saratoga, Moquett said.

◗ Inside speed was particularly effective here Thursday, when rain from earlier in the week forced all racing to the main track. Seven of the eight races were won by horses either on or very close to the early pace, almost all of them along the rail. The one exception was Dana’s Beauty ($14.20), who was third in the early going in race 7. Mischiefful, a 3-year-old Into Mischief filly trained by Ian Wilkes for owner-breeder Sierra Farm, looked especially good in dominating the finale with a 91 Beyer Speed Figure. She paid $4.60.