Maxfield Powers Home in Alysheba
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Maxfield pulls clear of Visitant in the Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs
Godolphin's homebred Maxfield returned to winning form April 30 at Churchill Downs with a commanding 3 1/4-length victory in the $400,000 Alysheba Stakes Presented by Sentient Jet (G2). Unbeaten until he ran third in the March 6 Santa Anita Handicap (G1), the son of Street Sense has now won six of seven starts after covering the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:41.39.
Williamson Racing's Visitant was second, 4 1/4 lengths ahead of Chess Chief in third. Maxfield paid $3 as the heavy choice in the six-horse field and anchored a $2 exacta (6-1) worth $22.60.
Jose Ortiz was aboard Maxfield in the first graded stakes on the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) undercard. Chess Chief broke sharp from post 4, but it was Visitant who took the early advantage in the Alysheba. The bay son of Ghostzapper carried the field through early splits of :23.91, :47.48, and 1:11.28 while being tracked by Speedway Stables' Roadster . Maxfield was third down the backstretch in a tight-knit bunch. Ortiz had him well off the rail as they began their advance on the far turn.
Maxfield easily cruised to the leaders, collaring Visitant and Roadster at the head of the lane. He quickly opened up on his rivals, but was kept to task by Ortiz as he drifted slightly out late.
“I was very confident all the way around," the jockey said. "We were right where I wanted to be. When it came time to go, he was there for me. He’s one of the nice ones."
Roadster finished fourth and was followed home by Sonneman and Attachment Rate .
Trainer Brendan Walsh said: "I just told Jose to get him in a nice rhythm. He likes to roll along and get into that cruising speed. He's an adaptable horse, so he's easy to ride under whatever the circumstances. Physically, he's gradually filled out and he's up to his full maturity, which is exciting. He loves this track, and he hasn't done anything wrong. But actually he hasn't done anything wrong at any track where he's run. He's just a very good horse."
(L-R): Brendan Walsh, Jimmy Bell, and Jose Ortiz Jr. enjoy the Alysheba trophy presentation
Maxfield is out of Velvety, a Godolphin-bred daughter of Bernardini . Velvety is out of the multiple graded stakes-winning Caress, a $3.1 million purchase by Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock agent, John Ferguson, at the 2000 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, where Caress was consigned by John Williams, agent. Caress is also the dam of sire Sky Mesa (by Pulpit). Deeper in her family is the second dam of Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) starter Hidden Stash . Godolphin will be represented in the Derby by 2-1 morning-line favorite Essential Quality .
The score was Maxfield's third at Churchill. He broke his maiden under the Twin Spires in September 2019 and won last spring's Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at the Alysheba trip. Two other graded stakes victories came in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland in 2019 and in the Mineshaft Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots earlier this season. The dark bay colt has now earned $908,782.