GODOLPHIN’S good weekend extended to New York where Maxfield won the Grade 2 Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs for Brendan Walsh.

Maxfield, as usual, raced towards the back in the field and moved to fifth after Sprawl took command with three-quarters in 1m10.70secs.

When asked by Jose Ortiz, Maxfield blew past the leaders with a four-wide rally, and Ortiz only needed to tap him on the shoulder over the final furlong for a three-and-a-quarter-length triumph over Warrior’s Charge who was slow into stride and closed from fifth to grab second, two lengths in front of Sprawl, who tired to third.

“I just sort of had to stay out of his way,” said Ortiz. “He has a big stride and does it so nicely. It’s great to be back here at Churchill with this horse. He seems to be getting better and loves it here.”

The son of Street Sense was making it four from four at the track. Jimmy Bell, president and racing manager for Godolphin USA, praised the success of Sheikh Mohammed. “These are homebreds. His sportsmanship. His international racing. We’re very, very proud to be a part of it. A lot of people in the background doing a lot of good things.”

Future plans will also have to work around the rest of the Godolphin top US performers, Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide who runs tonight and Belmont winner Essential Quality. The $1 million Whitney Stakes at Saratoga in August could be in Maxfield’s targets.

The five-year-old mare Letruska put on another impressive display at Churchill Downs to win the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Stakes, notching her fourth graded stakes win from five starts this year in her customary front-running manner.

Coming off Grade 1 victories in the Apple Blossom Handicap and Ogden Phipps Stakes, the Fausto Gutierrez-trained five-year-old was a short-priced favourite in the six-horse Fleur de Lis. She quickly took charge under Jose Ortiz with Godolphin’s Antoinette offering some competition but Letruska, who was carrying 5lb more, cleared away and extended her advantage down the stretch and was five and three-quarter lengths ahead of Antoinette at the wire in a fast time.

Her trainer has not ruled out taking on the males this season. “She has run with the top horses in the division, and she won. She battled them, all the ones. I like that any track where she goes, she runs. Any conditions. So I think yes. And why not maybe think to run with the boys? You never know,” Gutierrez said afterwards.

The Fleur de Lis is the ninth victory in the US for Letruska, who won her first six starts in Mexico, six of her US wins in graded stakes.

Set Piece weaved through traffic in deep stretch to collar leader Somelikeithotbrown in the Grade 2 $300,000 Wise Dan Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Florent Geroux praised Juddmonte’s homebred Dansili gelding. “He’s a very nice horse. No matter where he comes from, inside or outside, he always seems to rally late. Turning for home, he gave me his best run. I’m very proud of this horse and I think this year is the best we’ve seen from him.”