Maxfield returned from an eight-week break to post a dominating three-and-a-quarter length victory in the G2 Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs June 26.
The Godolphin homebred became the second Graded Stakes winner of the afternoon for his sire Street Sense, following the earlier exploits of his daughter Zaajel in the G2 Mother Goose at Belmont Park.
The victory pushed Maxfield’s earnings over $1.2 million and earned the colt an automatic berth in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar this fall. The Stephen Foster is part of the ‘Win and You’re In’ series sponsored by the Breeders’ Cup. Maxfield has now won seven of his eight starts, his only loss being a third-place finish in the G1 Santa Anita Handicap.
Settled in mid-pack through the early stages of the race, Maxfield began to rapidly pick off rivals on the far turn before taking command at the top of the stretch. The dark bay colt was never threatened on his way to winning by close to four lengths.
Maxfield was bred in Kentucky and is out of the mare Velvety, a winning daughter of Darley stallion, Bernardini. Velvety is out of the multiple Graded Stakes-winner, Caress (G3 Beaugay, G3 Poker H., etc.), and is a half-sister to Sky Mesa (G1 Hopeful) and Golden Velvet (G3 Sixty Sails).
Maxfield capped off a banner day for stallion Street Sense, who was also represented by G2 Mother Goose winner, Zaajel. In addition, Street Sense is the sire of 2021 Graded Stakes winners Concert Tour (G2 Rebel) and Minister (Singapore’s G1 Kranji Mile), and Listed winners Windmill (Dixie Belle Stakes), Capo Kane (Jerome Stakes) and Hollis (Stonerside Sprint).
