Maxfield

Baeza (McKinzie), winner of last term's GI Pennsylvania Derby and an unlucky third after completely missing the break in his 2026 return in the GII Alysheba S. May 1, is aiming to make his next start in a star-studded renewal of the $2-million GI Stephen Foster S. at Churchill Downs June 27. The 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland is also expected to showcase a highly anticipated rematch between 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic winner White Abarrio (Race Day) and 2025 Horse of the Year...

After a weekend that flashed one talent after another, like a many-sided jewel rotating in the sun, it's hard to single out a dominant facet. But having previously explored the backgrounds of Golden Tempo (Curlin) and Nysos (Nyquist), let's start with the breakout performance of Englishman (Maxfield), author of a 115 Beyer in the GI Woody Stephens Stakes. And actually this horse shares an important glint of brilliance with the other pair. Because Golden Tempo, the second consecutive Derby/Belmont winner out of a daughter of Bernardini, shares his damsire not...

4th-CD, 125K, O/c, 3yo, f, 1m, 2:15 p.m. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' MASHALLAH (Maxfield) earned an eye-popping 106 Beyer Speed Figure in her Keeneland debut going six furlongs for Brendan Walsh Apr. 23. That form was flattered when the third-place runner from that field, In Scope (Gun Runner), went on to earn the 'Rising Star' moniker herself in her next start May 22. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione takes over the ride from Joel Rosario Saturday from the far outside gate as the $1.25-million OBS March grad stretches out against...

Danon Bourbon (Maxfield), who finished fifth in this year's GI Kentucky Derby behind Golden Tempo (Curlin), has been found to have a fractured knee upon his return to Japan, trainer Manabu Ikezoe announced Wednesday. "The fracture in his knee was discovered after the Kentucky Derby," Ikezoe said. "After returning to Japan, he had X-rays taken for confirmation and has completed quarantine at the Japan Racing School, so he will now undergo surgery to remove the bone fragments at the Shadai Clinic in Hokkaido in preparation for his return. The timing...

We know that the majority of stallions, in this day and age, get their biggest and best books precisely when we know least about their competence. But the other side of the same coin is that very few breeders stick around should a stallion fail to seize that first, fleeting opportunity. Just as well, then, that a historically underachieving group of rookies has got its act together with its maturing first crop, to the extent that four have managed to get a son into the GI Kentucky Derby gate. Collectively,...

It was a week of unlikely maiden performances: a staggering 106 debut Beyer and two fast runners from a rare 1 1/4-mile maiden race.   5) LATE NIGHT TEXT, 4/23-3rd, 7 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 83 (f, 3, by Into Mischief-Arrifana, by Curlin) O-Daugherty Racing and 24th Road Racing. B-LNJ Foxwoods & Gainesway Thoroughbreds (Ky). T-Saffie Joseph Jr. J-Micah Husbands. Running for Joseph for the first time, Late Night Text improved his previous top Beyer Speed Figure by 11 points in his sixth career start to defeat a pair...

Two days after 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Mashallah provided Maxfield's trainer Brendan Walsh with his first winner by the Darley stallion sprinting on the dirt at Keeneland, INTEGRITY (f, 3, Maxfield--Truthful, by Bodemeister) repeated the dose in a one-mile maiden on the turf to open the Gulfstream program Saturday afternoon. Distanced on dirt debut at Ellis Park last July when she was sent off just shy of 7-2, the $325,000 Keeneland September yearling re-emerged here with Lasix and blinkers for the first time and was kicked straight into...

1st-AQU, $80k, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 1:10p.m. ET Hailing from a branch of the female line which yielded 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' MGISW Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), Okefenokee (Maxfield) will be unveiled in the Aqueduct opener for trainer Tom Morley. Sharing a name with an ecologically rich swampland that spans Georgia and Florida, as well as being a beloved stomping ground for a certain Adams family, the $375,000 Keeneland September purchase enters this debut with a healthy worktab over the training track at Belmont Park. In...

3rd-GP, $68k, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1:54 p.m. ET Godolphin homebred Delightfully (Tapit), a full-sister to two-time champion and promising young sire Essential Quality, kicks off her career for Brad Cox. She is the 8-5 morning-line favorite. Cox will also saddle second-time starter Nahla (Authentic), a half-sister to GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. winner Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator). The Shadwell Stable colorbearer and $550,000 KEESEP yearling finished second on debut going two turns at Tampa Feb. 28. TJCIS PPs 6th-KEE, $110k, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 3:40 p.m. ET The rail-drawn Mashallah...

Leaving his debut education far behind him on Monday, Ballydoyle's $1million Keeneland September sensation Shaftesbury Avenue (Maxfield) imposed his considerable presence on his maiden at Navan. Fitted with cheekpieces following his third at The Curragh earlier this month, the 2-1 second favourite was sent forward by Wayne Lordan to put it up to his 14 rivals in the near-mile contest and had seen off all bar Tashakour (Night Of Thunder) approaching the final two furlongs. Briefly headed by that Aga Khan Studs representative, the imposing half-brother to Not This Time's triple Grade...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Monday's Observations features a seven-figure yearling. 2.48 Navan, Mdn, 3yo/up, c/g, 7f 180yT SHAFTESBURY AVENUE (Maxfield) may not have made much impact on his debut at The Curragh earlier this month, but Aidan O'Brien is renowned for improving his maidens exponentially and as a $1-million Keeneland September sensation is...

Danox Co. Ltd's Danon Bourbon (Maxfield) validated 11-10 favoritism with a convincing victory in Saturday's $227,900 Fukuryu Stakes (allowance) at Nakayama Racecourse, easily defeating pacesetting Don Erectus (Jpn) (Danon Legend), who was finishing runner-up for the third time in the four-race series. The pair has each amassed 40 points towards the automatic Japanese berth at Churchill on the first Saturday in May and because he is an original nominee to the Triple Crown, Danon Bourbon is--for the time being--on the top line. Per Churchill Downs rule, any ties are broken...