Maxfield works well in blinkers again, likely to wear them in Woodward
ELMONT, N.Y. - When Maxfield runs in next Saturday’s Grade 1 Woodward at Belmont Park, he will likely do so in blinkers, equipment he has yet to wear in a race.
On a beautiful Saturday morning at Belmont Park, Maxfield worked a half-mile in 49.59 seconds over the main track, wearing a small set of blinkers, commonly referred to as cheaters. Jockey Jose Ortiz was aboard for the move, which Daily Racing Form timed in 24.88 seconds for the quarter, 49.59 for the half, with a five-furlong gallop-out in 1:02.31 and up six furlongs in 1:14.95.
Trainer Brendan Walsh liked the way Maxfield worked in blinkers both Saturday and last week in Saratoga. While he didn’t totally commit to using them in the Woodward, he sure sounded as if he would.
Walsh said Ortiz told him the blinkers “definitely don’t have a negative effect.”
“If anything,” Walsh said, “they might just get him to focus a little better, but I don’t think they’ll make any major change whether we put them or not. I’m still kind of contemplating it, but I’m thinking we might use them.”
Walsh agreed with the theory that it might be easier to try blinkers for the first time in the Woodward than it would be in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.
Maxfield, a winner of 7 of 9 starts, has not run since finishing second to Knicks Go in the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga on Aug. 7. Walsh kept Maxfield in Saratoga to train before shipping him down earlier in the week.
“His last couple of bits of work in Saratoga were very, very good,” Walsh said. “We did some good, strong work with him up there. Today was a case of letting him get a feel of the track. I think everything is going good and he’s in good shape. Can’t ask for much more than that.”
A field of six is shaping up for the Woodward, including Art Collector, By My Standards, Code of Honor, Dr Post, and Forza Di Oro.
Also of note Saturday, trainer Todd Pletcher’s pair of Grade 1 Champagne hopefuls Wit and My Prankster worked five furlongs together in 1:01.75 over the Belmont training track. They galloped out six furlongs 1:15.40 and seven-eighths in 1:30.15.
Malathaat, the Kentucky Oaks and Alabama winner, went a half-mile in 49.36 seconds in company with Spice Is Nice. Malathaat is training up to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.