Cherie DeVaux unleashed a classy gentleman on Churchill Downs Friday afternoon, and Englishman (Maxfield) strolled in to clock a blistering time as well as securing 'Rising Star' honors.
Away from the blocks quickly, and out to control the tempo, he was tracked closely for most of the race by Tagermeen (Into Mischief), who has now run in three straight races against eventual 'TDN Rising Stars'-namely Curtain Call (Tiz the Law) and Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) in his prior two jumps. The latter won the GI Spendthrift Farm Hopeful Stakes while the former ran third.
The 2-1 second choice behind Tagermeen, Englishman was traveling well up the backstretch and the pair distanced themselves from the field after an opening quarter in :22.27. After a half in :44.74, he had the measure of that one as they swung for home with six panels posted in 1:08.70. Kicking away in the stretch, Englishman strolled home the easiest of winners to stop the clock in 1:21.35 for seven furlongs on the main track. It was 7 1/4 lengths back to second as Tagermeen was caught late for the runner-up spot in a photo with White Tiger (Constitution).
Englishman is Maxfield's third 'Rising Star' and second in North America behind Five Bars at Saratoga last month. The stallion also has one in Japan in Magna Victor.
The victor is the most recent to the races for his dam, herself a daughter of SW & MGISP All Due Respect (Value Plus). In It for the Gold (Speightstown) has produced three winners counting Englishman and has two fillies in the wings-a yearling by Authentic and a 2025 Mandaloun. She was bred to Tiz the Law for 2026.
5th-Churchill Downs, $120,805, Msw, 9-19, 2yo, 7f, 1:21.35, ft, 7 1/4 lengths.
ENGLISHMAN, c, 2, by Maxfield
1st Dam: In It for the Gold, by Speightstown
2nd Dam: All Due Respect, by Value Plus
3rd Dam: Aunt Due, Devil His Due
Sales history: $240,000 Wlg '23 KEENOV; $400,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,300. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-C R K Stable LLC; B-Fifth Avenue Bloodstock (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux.
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