Longshot Maxim Rate Breaks Through in Gamely
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Maxim Rate (outside) wins the Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Longshot Maxim Rate came running with a flourish to earn her first grade 1 victory May 31 in the $300,100 Gamely Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita Park.
The 5-year-old daughter of Exchange Rate edged out La Signare by a half-length for the win in the 1 1/8-mile turf event at odds of 13-1 under Juan Hernandez. Bodhicitta finished another half-length back in third in the field of seven fillies and mares, 3 years olds and up.
Heavily favored Charmaine's Mia , a winner of three consecutive graded stakes at shorter distances coming into the Gamely, took her customary position on the lead through splits of :22.82, :45.94, and 1:09.86, but hit the deep end of the pool through a 1:34.36 mile. Maxim Rate, who stalked the pace while fourth early, was able to take full advantage while holding off La Signare's late run.
The final time was 1:46.61 on a course rated firm.
Maxim Rate came in off a fifth in the April 10 Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland to claim the victory for Slam Dunk Racing, Stable Currency, and James Branham.
"We knew she was training really well coming into this race," said trainer Simon Callaghan. "We felt that the set up (would) be perfect. A mile and an eighth, back here in California, I think is totally her game. We had some speed to run at and it actually turned out exactly how we wrote up the race (in advance).
"The grade 1 was our main aim and to pull it off is fantastic for all of the owners, all of the Slam Dunk team, everyone involved. Now, we'll just space the races out and it will be nice to get to the Breeders' Cup."
A winner of the 2020 Goldikova Stakes (G2T) going a mile on the Santa Anita turf three starts back Oct. 25, Maxim Rate was then fifth in the Nov. 29 Matriarch (G1T) at Del Mar before finishing in the same place at Keeneland. She notched her third graded stakes win and her fourth win from eight starts over the Santa Anita lawn. With the winner's share of $180,000, she increased her earnings to $597,185 while improving her overall mark to 6-3-0 in 16 starts.
"She broke out of there, really clean break, she relaxed really well for me," said Hernandez, who was aboard Maxim Rate for the first time. "She's a very classy filly; you can do whatever you want with her. I had a really good trip and I just waited for the quarter pole to start working on her and when I asked her to go, she took off. She's a very nice filly."
After Bodhicitta came Keeper Ofthe Stars , Going to Vegas , Charmaine's Mia, and Red Lark .
Bred in Kentucky by Fred Hertrich lll and John Fielding out of the Unbridled's Song mare Catch My Eye, Maxim Rate was a $235,000 purchase by A.C. Elliott, agent, from St George Sales' consignment to the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She also went through the ring at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, where she was a $130,000 find by KD Bloodstock from Taylor Made Sales Agency.