Maxfield powers to glory in G1 Breeders’ Futurity

Hugely exciting two-year-old Maxfield continued a faultless start to his career when storming to a commanding victory in the G1 Breeders' Futurity over an extended mile on dirt at Keeneland, USA, on Saturday, 5 October.

The Street Sense colt, a debut winner for Brendan Walsh at Churchill Downs on Saturday, 14 September, was half a stride slow leaving the stalls and raced in last of the 10 runners before moving up a place entering the back straight.

Maxfield made a sweeping move around the field turning for home and ran on strongly to hit the front at the top of the straight. He readily opened up daylight over his rivals and was kept up to his work by Jose Ortiz to come home five and a half lengths clear of Gouverneur Morris in 1m 44.21s on a fast track.

Brendan Walsh said: “I always knew that it would be special to win my first G1, but to win it here for Godolphin is extra special.

“I thought that Maxfield might take a run or two to break his maiden but we knew that he was a super-talented horse. He overcame a lot the first day we ran him and came out of that race so well. To run him back in three weeks was a big ask for a horse who had only run once.

“He is a very special horse. I have been around a lot of good horses, and good horses breathe different air. I think this horse is right there. He answers every question and is just a really good horse.

“Obviously, we will see how he comes out of this race but if you don’t bring him to the Breeders’ Cup now, who do you bring?”

Jose Ortiz said: “Maxfield is a very nice horse and is very smart. He broke slow first time, took dirt and came running, and today he did the same thing – he broke a bit slow and relaxed but, when I asked him to go, he was there for me the whole time.

“It’s a great training job by Brendan, as always, and I appreciate the opportunity he and Godolphin gave me to ride the horse.”