By Steve Sherack
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It was a 'Man' versus boys in the GI Woody Stephens S. at Saratoga Saturday.
C R K Stable's Englishman (Maxfield), a well-beaten second behind Crude Velocity (Beau Liam) in the battle of unbeaten 'TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard' in the GII Pat Day Mile S. on Kentucky Derby day, turned the tables with authority on the cutback to seven furlongs, equaling Darby Creek Road's track record of 1:20.40 set in 1978.
“It doesn't surprise me,” winning trainer Cherie DeVaux said. “This horse is so fast that we kind of get a glimpse of it when he runs. He runs like that and almost broke the track record at Fair Grounds wrapped up, so the sky is the limit for him right now, but I believe that's at six and seven furlongs.”
Out of the gate like a shot in this deep field of nine, Englishman was content to press on the outside in second through scorching early fractions of :21.98 and :43.97. The 4-1 chance took over approaching the quarter pole and cornered wide with a purpose beneath Jose Ortiz as Crude Velocity began to make his move as well.
Crude Velocity had no answer when the real running began this time, however, and Englishman put on a show down the stretch to win by a geared-down 5 3/4 lengths. Crude Velocity, off as the 4-5 favorite, had a nose over 'Rising Star' Obliteration (Violence), winner of last summer's GIII Sanford S. at the Spa, for second.
A no-brainer 'Rising Star' on debut after stopping the timer for seven furlongs in a razor sharp 1:21.35 at Churchill Downs Sept. 19, Englishman romped again in his highly anticipated return in an optional claimer going six furlongs at Fair Grounds Mar. 19.
After winning his two starts by a combined 14 3/4 lengths, he tired to second, 3 3/4 lengths behind Crude Velocity, in the aforementioned Pat Day Mile.
“Last time, I had the number one hole and it was uncomfortable for me having (Crude Velocity) outside every step of the way and he also is a nice horse, but today cutting back to seven, it was much better for me,” Ortiz said.
DeVaux added that Englishman would target the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial at Saratoga Aug. 29.
Pedigree Notes:
Englishman, a $400,000 Keeneland September purchase by Lee Searing's operation, becomes the first graded winner for second-crop sire Maxfield. He is responsible for three other black-type winners.
Englishman is the 10th Grade I winner for the much-missed broodmare sire Speightstown. He is also responsible for back-to-back GI Manhattan S. champ and 'Rising Star' Deterministic (Liam's Map).
Englishman was produced by the winning In It for the Gold, who brought $75,000 from Country Life Farm, agent, at the 2023 Keeneland November sale. She is a daughter of SW & MGISP All Due Respect (Value Plus).
C R K also owns Englishman's unraced 2-year-old half-sister English Woman (Authentic), a $425,000 OBS April breezer.
A yearling filly by Mandaloun and a Tiz the Law colt of this year are still in the pipeline.
An Englishman in New York 🗽
ENGLISHMAN earns his first stakes win in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens Stakes pres. by @MoheganSun under @jose93_ortiz for trainer @reredevaux. pic.twitter.com/rBTwW0UD79
— NYRA (🗽) (@TheNYRA) June 6, 2026
Saturday, Saratoga
WOODY STEPHENS S. PRESENTED BY MOHEGAN SUN-GI, $500,000, Saratoga, 6-6, 3yo, 7f, 1:20.40, ft.
1–ENGLISHMAN, 124, c, 3, by Maxfield
1st Dam: In It for the Gold, by Speightstown
2nd Dam: All Due Respect, by Value Plus
3rd Dam: Aunt Due, by Devil His Due
'TDN Rising Star'. 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES
WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($240,000 Wlg '23 KEENOV; $400,000
Ylg '24 KEESEP). O-C R K Stable LLC; B-Fifth Avenue Bloodstock
(KY); T-Cherie DeVaux; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $275,000. Lifetime
Record: 4-3-1-0, $519,500. Werk Nick Rating: F.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Crude Velocity, 124, c, 3, Beau Liam–Sweetnsour Kitty,
by Lemon Drop Kid. 'TDN Rising Star'. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE.
($12,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT; $3,000 Ylg '24 FTDDE; $250,000 2yo
'25 OBSOPN). O-CSLR Racing Partners; B-La Ciega LLC (KY);
T-Bob Baffert. $100,000. Upcoming Auction: OBS 2 YR OLD &
HRA 2026, Hip #925.
3–Obliteration, 124, c, 3, Violence–I'mclassyandsassy,
by Master Command. 'TDN Rising Star'. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE.
($200,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR). O-Leland Ackerley Racing, James
Sherwood, Jode Shupe and John Cilia; B-Ocala Stud (KY);
T-Steven M. Asmussen. $60,000.
Margins: 5 3/4, NO, 5 1/4. Odds: 4.28, 0.92, 7.39.
Also Ran: Gilded Bandit, Civil Liberty, Stradale, Solitude Dude, Six Speed, Taj Mahal. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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