Walsh follows stakes upset with three-bagger on Sunday card

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Sending his loyal backers home with a smile Saturday night wasn’t enough for Brendan Walsh. The 48-year-old Irish native followed up with three more winners Sunday afternoon at Churchill Downs, vaulting him into second place in the local standings while furthering his stature as a highly capable trainer.

Walsh sent out the Irish-bred mare Mintd for a 12-1 upset of heavily favored Juliet Foxtrot in the Grade 3 Mint Julep under the lights Saturday night, then wheeled back the next day to win a $50,000 turf claimer with Blue Cat ($6.60), a first-level allowance with Gigi B. ($14), and the maiden-special nightcap with Business Model ($21).

The hot hand gives Walsh 15 wins from 48 starters at a 38-day meet that began April 24, just two wins behind the meet leader, Brad Cox. But that’s not all: Walsh was hoping the crack turf sprinter Extravagant Kid would follow up his victory in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai with another international score in the Group 1 King’s Stand when the Royal Ascot opened Tuesday in England, just as he hopes Maxfield continues surging toward the top of America’s older-horse division as a heavy favorite in the Grade 2, $600,000 Stephen Foster on Churchill’s closing day, June 26.

Because of pandemic-related quarantine restrictions, Walsh chose not to travel overseas for the King’s Stand, settling instead for watching it on television. Walsh will be staying put for the duration of this meet, joined by Maxfield, the 4-year-old Godolphin homebred who has been training steadily at Keeneland since earning a 105 Beyer Speed Figure in a 3 1/4-length romp in the Grade 2 Alysheba on the April 30 Kentucky Oaks undercard.

“I’m bringing him back here to Churchill to work this coming weekend,” said Walsh. “He’s doing great, doing super. All systems go.”

Nominations for all seven stakes to be run Foster Day were released Sunday. Among the other 19 older horses made eligible to the 1 1/8-mile Foster are By My Standards, Happy Saver, Mighty Heart, and Rushie.

The Grade 2 Fleur de Lis, the filly-mare counterpart to the Foster, also is set for closing day. Both are Win and You’re In events toward the Nov. 5-6 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar.

Meanwhile, Mintd earned a career-best 92 Beyer in her Mint Julep triumph under a terrific ride from Ricardo Santana Jr. Walsh said he has yet to think about the next start for the 5-year-old mare. As for La Signare, most recently second in the Grade 1 Gamely on May 31 at Santa Anita, “there’s no real plan yet, but we’re kicking around the idea of the Beverly D. or Diana,” said Walsh, adding that Zofelle, another of his standout turf mares, has been turned out since finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Just a Game on the June 5 Belmont Stakes undercard.