Maxfield won the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs in the US on Saturday. - Supplied photo
Dubai - The Godolphin charge is now a prospect for the postponed Grade 1 Kentucky Derby
Published: Sun 24 May 2020, 10:04 AM
Last updated: Sun 24 May 2020, 10:33 PM
Perhaps, this is an inkling of what is to come. Perhaps, this could be the path to greatness. Maxfield got out of his sophomore year in some style with a thrilling victory at the very venue where he could be on that road to greatness in four months time.
The Godolphin colt began his campaign as a three-year-old with a remarkable run to land the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs in the US on Saturday.
The son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, Maxfield timed his run to perfection to beat the traffic and win by a length over NY Traffic.
Brendan P Walsh's charge is now unbeaten with three astonishing victories in all three starts and the win vaulted him as a prospect for the postponed Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.
Ably ridden by illustrious Puerto Rican jockey Jose Ortiz, Maxfield stayed in touch with the pack before smartly making his moves.
And, as the field approached the bend, he swooped from the outside before putting pedal to clinch the win.
The victory enhanced Maxfield's chances of contesting the 146th renewal of the Kentucky Derby to be staged at Churchill Downs on September 5. Horses qualify through points in the 2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby and Maxfield now has 60 points.
The Derby, usually the first leg of the American Triple Crown, has been postponed from its original date in May to September.
The Belmont Stakes will now be the first leg on June 20 followed by the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes on October 3.
"We were really anxious to see this one," said Walsh.
"It wasn't an easy spot either. I think the top four horses are all really nice horses. It's nice to get this one out of the way. It's good to see him come back and see he's as good if not better than when he was a two-year-old. Jose gave him a great ride. He had a different kind of style than he did in the past. He broke really good. He won and we can't ask for more than that," he added.
Maxfield's previous two wins were the Maiden Special Weight and the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Churchill Downs and Keeneland respectively, last year.
"The start is a key part of the race," Ortiz said.
"Last time I worked him out of the gate at Keeneland he worked better. He's really matured a lot. If you can keep breaking like he did today and be in a spot like he did, he's going to be a really nice horse," added the 26-year-old, who won the Kentucky Oaks last year onboard Serengeti Empress.
Meanwhile, Godolphin USA President Jimmy Bell said: "It was nice to see that Maxfield was able to maintain the same level of professionalism and consistency that he showed as a two-year-old. It's great to see him back at the races and deliver a performance like that."
Godolphin's other contender Mystic Guide was a non-runner.
james@khaleejtimes.com
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