Maxfield Continues Godolphin's Global Success

The first day of the weekend is relished by most, but for the people behind Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Godolphin operation, it has become a time to celebrate.

On June 5 Godolphin's Adayar  captured the Cazoo Derby (G1) at Epson and the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) with Essential Quality . Three weeks later on June 26, the operation pulled off another major stakes double, capturing the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) at The Curragh with Hurricane Lane  and the $600,000 Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs with Maxfield . 

Though the Stephen Foster wasn't a grade 1, it has implications for one—the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). As part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge program, the Stephen Foster provided an expense-paid berth into the Nov. 6 race at Del Mar.

On hand to watch Maxfield's 3 1/4-length triumph over Warrior's Charge  in the Stephen Foster, Jimmy Bell, president and racing manager for Godolphin USA, was all smiles.

"We've kind of got this Saturday thing going with the Belmont and English Derby before, and today with the Irish Derby and good performance from Maxfield today," he said. "Just a testament to Sheikh Mohammed's overall breeding program. These are homebreds. His sportsmanship. His international racing. We're very, very proud to be a part of it. A lot of people in the background doing a lot of good things."

As is his custom, Maxfield raced from off the pace in the Stephen Foster, though he was always within striking range. Sixth for the first half-mile of the race as Empty Tomb  set the pace in the 1 1/8-mile race with fractions of :23.33 and :46.88, Maxfield crept up to fifth after Sprawl  took command with three-quarters in 1:10.70.

Then the fun for Team Godolphin began. Cut loose by jockey Jose Ortiz, Maxfield blew past the leaders with a four-wide rally, and Ortiz confidently hand rode him down the stretch, only occasionally tapping him on the shoulder over the final furlong.

"I just sort of had to stay out of his way," said Ortiz. "He has a big stride and does it so nicely. It's great to be back here at Churchill with this horse. He seems to be getting better and loves it here."

The winner, 4-for-4 beneath the Twin Spires, is a 4-year-old son of Street Sense  . He raced 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.54, more than a second off the 1:47.28 stakes record set by Victory Gallop  in 1999. Last year, Tom's d'Etat   won the Stephen Foster in 1:47.30

Heavily favored at 2-5 odds against a field comprised mostly of horses with modest stakes accomplishments, Maxfield paid $2.80 to win. He carried co-high weight of 121 pounds, with fifth-place Chess Chief , just two pounds more than the other seven competitors.

Typically a frontrunner, Ten Strike Racing and Madaket Stables' Warrior's Charge was slow into stride and closed from fifth to grab second, two lengths in front of Sprawl, who tired to third.

"He broke okay. Somehow, this year, it seems he doesn't have as much early speed as he showed over the past year or so. I was still happy with him," said his Warrior's Charge's jockey, Florent Geroux. "I tried to put him somewhere not too far off. But very pleased how he relaxed, how he handled things. I thought I had a great at the three-eighths pole as I swung out before Maxfield made his run. But he was just a little bit too strong for me. He swallowed me up and took over pretty quickly.

"Still really proud of our horse. He ran a great second, actually."

South Bend  was fourth, followed by Chess Chief , Empty Tomb, Necker Island , Visitant , and Silver Dust .

Maxfield took the long way around. He raced 46 more feet than the rail-drawn Chess Chief, who saved the most ground in the race, and 20 more feet than the runner-up, according to Trakus data.

He is part of a powerful trio of leading U.S.-based Breeders' Cup Classic prospects for Godolphin that also includes Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline (G1) winner Mystic Guide , trained by Mike Stidham, and Essential Quality, trained by Brad Cox.

For now, it seems Godolphin will keep them separated. Mystic Guide is bound for the July Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park July 3, and Essential Quality is a candidate for the Aug. 28 Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, among other major races restricted to 3-year-olds.

Bell suggested the $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Aug. 7 could fall in Maxfield's plans.

"We'll see how he comes out, but we surely hope he can continue down that path, find a spot at Saratoga," he added.

Walsh was reluctant to think too far ahead, knowing physical setbacks derailed Maxfield from competing in the Breeders' Cup and Triple Crown.

"He has so much talent. It's unbelievable," he said while watching his trainee return to be unsaddled. "I'm just blessed to have a horse as good as him."

Maxfield is the lone winner out of five foals and two to race from Velvety , a Godolphin-bred daughter of Bernardini  . One of her unraced foals is a 2-year-old Medaglia d'Oro   filly named Loved .

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   (Pulpit ).

Video: Stephen Foster S. (G2)