ONE of last year’s top two-year-olds, the Brendan Walsh-trained Maxfield returns to action in the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs tonight in a field of 12 chasing the 50 Kentucky Derby points on offer to the winner.
The Godolphin-owned colt had to miss the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last season after he scored an impressive win over Gouverneur Morris in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity in Keeneland last autumn that earned him 10 Kentucky Derby points.
Walsh is delighted with the way the son of Street Sense has been training since the November ankle surgery that forced him to miss the Breeders’ Cup.
“We’re really happy. We’ve had plenty of time to prepare him for this. This race came up at the right time, and he’s about as ready as we can get him coming off the bench. He’s training good, and we’re looking forward to seeing what he does Saturday.” He is drawn is stall 10.
Ny Traffic has 50 Kentucky Derby points and is 12th in the chase for one of 20 starting spots after being third in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes and second in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
Santa Anita
The action later turns to Santa Anita and United, second to Bricks And Mortar in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf, is the headline horse for the $200,000 Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes named after the late California training legend.
One of California’s top long-distance grass horses, Richard Mandella sent United to Dubai for the Shema Turf Classic there, but that race, like Dubai World Cup card, was called off for safety reasons.
Second in this race last year, United now brings more established form and last time out in February won the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes here
Last autumn he also finished third in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship Stakes as well as the seconds in both the Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf and Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes.
The five-year-old by Giant’s Causeway will be partnered by Flavien Prat, who had 10 victories over three days last week after Santa Anita resumed racing, topped by six winners last Sunday.
Rockemperor, a Chad Brown trained Irish-bred son of Holy Roman Emperor, is one of the dangers.
He won at this distance last year in France, and in three starts for Brown, he closed for third in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes at 10 furlongs in July, ran a close sixth in the mile and three furlong Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes in August.
Originaire is the other likely threat to the favourite and was a five-length allowance winner last time out here in February. The late-running four-year-old son of Zoffany ran second in the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile Stakes in December and the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby last September. Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes winner Desert Stone (by Fastnet Rock) can also figure.
The other stakes race on the card sees the John Sadler-trained Cistron out to win his third consecutive graded stakes race in the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes where he faces a three-pronged attack from the Doug O’Neill barn.