Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Maxfield’s connections debate Belmont Stakes, Blue Grass
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The pressing question will linger for the next few days, if not longer. Will Maxfield run next in the Belmont Stakes or forgo a Triple Crown chance by waiting for something like the Blue Grass Stakes?
This newest dilemma for Godolphin and trainer Brendan Walsh has surfaced in the aftermath of Maxfield winning the Matt Winn on Saturday at Churchill Downs. The Street Sense colt stayed unbeaten in three starts with a strong stretch run, earning a 95 Beyer Speed Figure and furthering his stature amid the elite of the 3-year-old class.
“We’ll talk it over with the Godolphin team and plan for our next target, whatever that may be,” Walsh told Churchill publicity. “I have just been thinking all along to go one race at a time.”
Maxfield, with Jose Ortiz back aboard, was making his first start since undergoing minor ankle surgery last November. His most recent race had resulted in a 5 1/2-length victory in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland in October.
“The most impressive thing about this horse is how he handles everything so well mentally,” Walsh said. “He’s such a cool horse and nothing really bothers him. Along with his athletic ability, his mental state is a really strong one-two punch.”
The Belmont Stakes will be run June 20, and the Blue Grass is expected to be run July 11 at Keeneland. Walsh has said it’s logical that Maxfield would race twice more prior to the 146th Kentucky Derby, which has been rescheduled to Sept. 5 amid all the coronavirus reshuffling. The colt earned 50 Derby qualifying points with his Winn triumph and now has a total of 60, which seems sufficient already to make the 20-horse Derby cutoff.
Meanwhile, Ny Traffic and Pneumatic both ran well in the 1 1/16-mile Winn as the respective second- and thirdplace finishers. Ny Traffic also earned a 95 Beyer when second by a length, while Pneumatic got a 94 Beyer when finishing another three-quarters of a length back in his first defeat.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said Monday from Florida that Ny Traffic was on his way back to Gulfstream Park and that the Belmont “hasn’t been totally ruled out,” although the Blue Grass or the July 18 Haskell at Monmouth Park are probably better, timing-wise, he said. The speedy gray colt earned 20 more points Saturday and now has 70.
“Those were important points that put us in a solid position,” Joseph said.
Easily the disappointment of the race was Major Fed, who was in contention at the quarter pole before stopping badly to finish 10th and last, 15 3/4 lengths behind Maxfield. Trainer Greg Foley said the colt cooled out fine and likely will get another chance on the Derby trail.
Layoffs no problem for winners
Four of the five stakes winners Saturday were making their first start of the year, and all are headed next for graded races.
Besides Maxfield in the Matt Winn, those other layoff winners were Dunbar Road, a 90 Beyer Speed Figure in the Shawnee; Sharing, an 84 Beyer in the Tepin; and Owendale, a 99 Beyer in the Blame. Smooth Like Strait, who got a 95 Beyer in winning the War Chant, had gone unraced since Feb. 29.
Trainer Chad Brown said Monday he was unsure whether Dunbar Road will remain at Churchill with his assistant Whit Beckman for the 1 1/8-mile Fleur de Lis on closing day of the spring meet, June 27.
“Either that, or I may stretch her out in the Delaware Handicap,” a 1 1/4-mile race on July 11 at Delaware Park, Brown said.
Trainer Graham Motion said Sharing remains possible for a run next month at the Royal Ascot meet, but if not, she could go next in the June 20 Wonder Again at Belmont. Sharing was making her first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last November.
Owendale, whose searing late run nailed Everfast and Silver Dust, goes next in the June 27 Stephen Foster, trainer Brad Cox said.
Plans are uncertain for Smooth Like Strait, although a graded turf race for 3-yearolds is likely, trainer Michael McCarthy said.
Besides the five stakes, the Saturday card also included an $88,741 turf allowance that drew eight graded winners. Spooky Channel, winner of the Grade 3 McKnight at Gulfstream in January, was up in the final jumps to beat Parlor.
Short-timers N.Y.-bound
The coming four-day week will be the last for a handful of star jockeys to ride regularly at this meet. With Belmont set to reopen June 3, John Velazquez, Joel Rosario, Jose Ortiz, and Javier Castellano all will head home to New York after the Sunday card.
“New York is home for my family and me,” Castellano said. “I’m thankful Churchill was able to open early and let us ride here.”
During the first six Churchill cards (through Sunday), the New York foursome combined for 15 wins and more than $1 million in mount earnings.
◗ A pair of Grade 3, $100,000 stakes for fillies and mares will be run Saturday at Churchill. The Cox duo of Beau Recall and Juliet Foxtrot are among the favorites for the Mint Julep at 1 1/16 miles on turf, while Spiced Perfection, Mia Mischief, and Break Even are among the notables expected for a terrific renewal of the Winning Colors at six furlongs. Entries were drawn Monday.
◗ Lessons From Avery ($149.20) became the longestpriced winner of the meet when he rallied under Rafael Bejarano in a Sunday turf allowance. Charlie LoPresti trains the 5-year-old mare.
◗ Ken and Sarah Ramsey, the all-time winningest owners at Churchill, were represented by their 500th winner under the twin spires when Spanned ($6.20) captured the third race Sunday.