Superb Year for Godolphin Barrels Into Summer, Fall

It's hardly a shocking turn of events when a famed international stable has an extraordinary run of success.

Yet even with the enhanced expectations attached to a massive operation that spans four continents, what Godolphin has already accomplished with its United States division in the first six months of 2021 is startling.

Quick checks of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association poll and Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) rankings paint a picture rarely seen in recent decades.

Atop the NTRA poll is a Godolphin homebred, Mystic Guide . Third is a Godolphin homebred, Maxfield . Sixth is, yes, a Godolphin homebred, Essential Quality .

In the Classic rankings, which offers a pecking order for America's richest race, Maxfield is first, with Mystic Guide second, and the 3-year-old Essential Quality third.

A Hall of Fame trainer having three horses like that in his barn is not a far-fetched thought. Yet in an era when partnerships have proliferated, for a single ownership entity to have three of the top six American horses in training with homebreds is an astonishing accomplishment for the U.S. arm of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's prosperous worldwide operation.

"Things are moving in the right direction and firing on a lot of different fronts. We've had some nice horses stepping up in some meaningful races," said Jimmy Bell, president of Godolphin USA. "We're very blessed to have the good fortune we've had. You hope to have one good horse but we have three extraordinarily talented colts, and, hopefully, they still have some improvement in them. We feel very fortunate and optimistic. We're grateful for what we've accomplished."

While six more months and dozens of major races are yet to come in 2021, there's little doubt that Godolphin is setting the early pace in the race for the Eclipse Awards as the outstanding owner and breeder.

Its list of major wins is already impressive, to say the very least. 

Mystic Guide, a 4-year-old son of Ghostzapper   trained by Michael Stidham, is 2-for-2 this year with victories in the $12 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) and the $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3). He'll try to notch another rich graded stakes win July 3 when he runs in the $400,000 Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park as a even-money morning-line favorite in his first start since March 27 and his convincing 3 3/4-length victory in Dubai.

"We wanted to give him time off but he bounced back very well, and we're looking forward to seeing him back here in the states," Bell said. "Hopefully, he can run a few good races here and add on to what he did in the Dubai World Cup. We could not be any happier with his progression."

Maxfield, a 4-year-old son of Street Sense   trained by Brendan Walsh, has won three of his four starts this year, capturing the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2), Alysheba Stakes Presented by Sentient Jet (G2), and Mineshaft Stakes (G3) dating back to February. His lone loss in that stretch and his eight-race career was a third by two lengths in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1).

"He's always been impressive looking physically but he's even better now. It feels like he's taken a big step forward mentally and is more professional in his races. He's really in tune with what's going on and taking care of business. He has a different attitude and outlook and all of that has made a difference in his races," Bell said about Maxfield. "He learned from that race at (Santa Anita Park). He had things his own way before that and hadn't been in many dogfights but the Santa Anita Handicap moved him forward, which is what you expect from a tight race. It wasn't a bad race considering it was his first try at 1 1/4 miles. He just got beat."

Essential Quality, a son of Tapit   trained by Brad Cox, was the champion 2-year-old male in 2020 and won the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) to give Godolphin its first Triple Crown victory since 2006 when Bernardini   won the Preakness Stakes (G1) under Sheikh Mohammed's Darley banner. It is expected he'll be shipped to Saratoga Race Course July 5 with the Aug. 28 $1.25 million Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) as his main objective and the July 31 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) as a possible prep for the Midsummer Derby.

"We all know how important the Travers is. That's the date we have circled on the calendar," Bell said about plans for the 2021 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) and 2020 TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) winner whose lone loss in seven career starts was a fourth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). "I think he'll probably need a prep race. He'll work one more time at Churchill Downs (tentatively July 3) and then ship to Saratoga and we'll leave it to Brad, but that is a distinct possibility. It's beneficial to have a race there before a race like the Travers."

And beyond that trio, like a superstar rock group, the hits have kept coming. Prior to Essential Quality's Belmont Stakes win, two European-based Godolphin fillies, the homebred Althiqa  and Summer Romance , ran 1-2 in the Longines Just a Game Stakes (G1T) for trainer Charles Appleby. Both female turfers are still in New York and are scheduled to run July 17 in the $500,000 Diana Stakes (G1T) as part of what could be an incredibly huge Saratoga meet for Godolphin.

With a continued stretch of good luck, it's quite possible that Godolphin could be represented with the favorite in the featured stakes on five of Saratoga's eight Saturdays with Maxfield pointing toward the Aug. 7 Whitney Stakes (G1) and Mystic Guide a possibility for either the Sept. 4 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) at the Spa or the Aug. 21 TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar.

"We've got some good things to look forward to at Saratoga," Bell said.

With all of that on the horizon, it adds even more glitter to Godolphin's already glittering North American totals this year. From 187 starters, Godolphin has 33 wins, 11 of them in graded stakes, with earnings of $5.5 million—totals that do not accurately reflect the group 1 win and $6,960,000 in purse money taken home by Mystic Guide in the Dubai World Cup.

This year's achievements also include wins in the Penn Mile Stakes (G3), The Very One Stakes (G3T), and Hillsborough Stakes (G2T).

"This is really a testament to what Sheikh Mohammed has developed over the years with his broodmare band and the horses he's raced," Bell said. "You look at the kind of broodmare sire Bernardini has become and it comes back to Sheikh Mo, Sheikh Mo, Sheikh Mo, and the passion he has for the industry and his support of it. He puts so much into the racing program which builds the breeding program. Those are the seeds we've planted that are being sowed now."

As amazing as its recent success story has been in the U.S.—which does not take into account Godolphin's foreign strength that was reflected last month in wins by Adayar  in the Cazoo Derby at Epsom (G1) and Hurricane Lane  in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1)—Stidham believes it was inevitable that all of the finances and resources Sheikh Mohammed has poured into his American division would be handsomely rewarded.

"It's phenomenal what's happening, but when you look at the operation, at the stallion power, and the broodmare power they have, and you combine all that, you can understand it," Stidham said. "They have diversified themselves in California, the Midwest, the East Coast with different trainers and with the power they have in the breeding shed, it was inevitable that this was going to happen. To me, it's shocking that it hasn't happened sooner. In today's world, it's incredible what they are doing. Amazing things are happening for them and deservedly so. It's a world class operation. That's how they treat it and it's all working out for them."

A decision a few years ago to diversify and bring in Cox, Stidham, and Walsh and expand into the Midwest and South to complement the Eastern base with trainers Bill Mott and the now retired Kiaran McLaughlin played a huge role in the current success. Yet there's also a platoon of behind-the-scenes workers who propel the U.S.-based breeding operation at Jonabell Farm in Lexington that Bell is quick to credit. It is people such as Godolphin USA chief operating officer Dan Pride, director of farm operations Michael Banahan, stud farm manager Danny Mulvihill, sales manager Darren Fox, assistant sales manager Kate Galvin, head of sales administration Suzanne Watkins, and many others who have supplied a vital helping hand to all those graded stakes wins.

"Sheikh Mohammed set the program up but we have so many people that don't get a lot of credit but they do so much to make these Saturday afternoons happen. We're grateful to have such a great team that has allowed us to build such a formidable stable," Bell said.

As much as Bell and Godolphin may have a full house in a high-stakes game of poker, in a few months' time it could grow into a royal flush. That's when the initial runners from a crop of about 80 2-year-olds will make their debut, bringing with them a common stamp.

"I'll have about 14 2-year-olds for them and you know at least a couple will be good. There's going to be a couple of graded winners in the bunch because there's grade 1 in the pedigrees. It's almost a given with the (catalog) pages they have. It's an amazing collection of bloodstock," Cox said. "They are all homebreds. They were homegrown, raised at their facility, and went through their program. It shows the depth of their breeding operation and all-around good horsemanship. It's a class organization. The whole Godolphin team deserves the success they are enjoying because they are phenomenal people to work with and work for. They are having a fantastic year, and I hope it continues."

Finding grade or group 1 pedigree in Godolphin bloodlines is indeed one of racing's easiest tasks.

Mystic Guide is by Hall of Famer and 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper   out of the multiple grade 1 winner Music Note (by A.P. Indy). Maxfield is by 2007 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Street Sense   out of Velvety, a daughter of the aforementioned Bernardini. Essential Quality is by the grade 1-winning Tapit. 

The homebred Antoinette , winner of The Very One who was second last weekend to Letruska in the Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) for Mott, is by grade 1-winner Hard Spun   out of a grade 2-winning mare.

It all adds up to a special year that, with the summer and fall classics ahead, hasn't even hit top stride yet.

"It's one horse out of a grade 1-winning stallion or a grade 1-winning mare after another," Stidham said. "The bloodlines are phenomenal. In today's world, it's amazing what they are doing. Amazing things are happening for them and deservedly so. It's a world class operation and that's how they treat it, and it's all working out for them. I'm just glad to be along for the ride."