Maxfield aims to bounce back in Alysheba Stakes

Maxfield bids to bounce back from a first career defeat when he returns to Churchill Downs, US, for the G2 Alysheba Stakes on Friday.

The Street Sense colt, a dominant winner of the 2019 G1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, drops back to an extended mile following a rallying third over a mile and a quarter in the G1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 6.

Maxfield (Jose Ortiz) has been successful on both his previous appearances at Churchill Downs, having won on his debut for Brendan Walsh in September, 2019, and scored over the Alysheba Stakes distance in last year’s G3 Matt Win Stakes.

His five victories also feature two dominant displays at Fair Grounds during the winter, including when beating Sonneman by three and a quarter lengths in the extended-mile G3 Mineshaft Stakes in February.

Godolphin US President Jimmy Bell said: “Maxfield is doing fantastically well. Brendan thought that the Santa Anita Handicap really brought him on and felt that the horse is ready to give a really good account of himself. He looks sharp, fit and ready to go.

“He is coming up against a horse on the comeback trail in Roadster, who showed some great talent earlier in his career, and this looks a strong test for Maxfield. It’s a very competitive field but we are very happy with the draw [six of six] and where Maxfield is right now.”

Elsewhere on the Kentucky Oaks undercard, Caramel Swirl (Luis Saez) makes her Stakes debut in the seven-furlong G2 Eight Belles Stakes after storming to a 10-and-a-half-length success in a Keeneland maiden on April 9.

The Bill Mott-trained filly placed on all four of her previous starts and went down by less than two lengths to this season’s G1 Ashland Stakes winner Malathaat on her debut at Belmont Park in October.

Jimmy Bell added: “Caramel Swirl produced a strong effort last time at Keeneland and, based on her sheet numbers, looks very competitive with this group.

“Dayoutoftheoffice, who was just beaten in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, is the standout in the field but she is making her first start of the year and it’s a pretty even bunch outside of her.

“If Caramel Swirl backs up her Keeneland race, she will have a lot to say. She is drawn on the outside in stall 12 but we don’t mind that at all with the chute at Churchill Downs and she hopefully won’t get bottled up down the inside.”

Meanwhile, Master Of The Seas heads into G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday following an impressive course and distance victory in the G3 Craven Stakes. Naval Crown, who beat Master Of The Seas at Meydan earlier this year, features among the five-day confirmations as well.

The first Saturday in May also means the Kentucky Derby - one of the few top international races to elude Godolphin so far. Essential Quality appears to hold all the attributes necessary to become the first winner in the Royal Blue silks, with a perfect record of five wins, including two at G1 level.