Unbeaten Maxfield Returns in Tenacious at Fair Grounds
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Photo: Coady Photography
Jose Ortiz embraces Maxfield after a victory in the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs
The $75,000 Tenacious Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Dec. 19 marks the continuation in the story of Maxfield, now in part three.
The twice-sidelined Street Sense colt, who missed a start in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita Park at age 2 due to injury and a possible tilt in this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) following another physical setback, returns to action in the 1 1/16-mile Tenacious against six rivals. The race will be his first start since he won the May 23 Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, a win that pushed his record to 3-for-3.
Video: Matt Winn S. (G3)
The following month at Keeneland, where he was preparing for the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2), he exited a workout with discomfort, and a condylar fracture to his right front leg was diagnosed.
As unlucky as he has been—a bone chip in his right front ankle was removed last fall after the Breeders' Cup—expectations remain high for the colt owned and bred by Godolphin. His skill has been on display in his victories, highlighted by a 5 1/2-length score in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) last year at 2, and trainer Brendan Walsh believes he is training as well as ever.
"We've got a lot to look forward to. It would have been disappointing to have his career ended prematurely. That would have been very disappointing because I don't think we've seen anywhere near the best of him yet," he said. "Hopefully, we'll get a clean bill of health this year, get a constant run of races into him. It could be pretty exciting to see what he could do."
Maxfield resumed breezing Nov. 25, roughly seven weeks after the COVID-19-postponed Derby, and he has proceeded to record a regular set of works, which have increased in speed in recent weeks. He worked a half-mile from the gate in :47 1/5 Dec. 6 at Fair Grounds, followed by another local move at the same distance in :48 4/5 Dec. 13.
"He's working really, really well. He's ready to go," Walsh said.
Florent Geroux picks up the mount, replacing Jose Ortiz, who bases in Florida during the winter months.
The opposition is headed by Sonneman, Captivating Moon, and Locally Owned. Captivating Moon is also entered in the Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds on Saturday going 1 1/16 miles on turf.
The Tenacious and Buddy Diliberto are among six stakes at the New Orleans oval, all worth $75,000. The Tenacious goes as the last race on a 13-race program at 5:50 p.m. CT.
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Saturday, December 19, 2020, Race 13Entries: Tenacious S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Cool Bobby (KY)
James Graham
118
Cherie DeVaux
12/1
2
2Locally Owned (KY)
Miguel Mena
120
Albert M. Stall, Jr.
5/1
3
3Captivating Moon (KY)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
118
Chris M. Block
9/2
4
4Mocito Rojo (KY)
Jack Gilligan
118
Shane Wilson
8/1
5
5Sonneman (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
117
Steven M. Asmussen
3/1
6
6Maxfield (KY)
Florent Geroux
115
Brendan P. Walsh
8/5
7
7Dinar (KY)
Shaun Bridgmohan
118
Cherie DeVaux
12/1
