Maxfield circles the Breeders' Futurity field, wins for fun

Maxfield, who trainer Brendan Walsh said was “overlooked” when winning on debut last month at Churchill Downs, was dismissed again when off at 6-1 in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Breeders’ Futurity.

The Keeneland feature’s likely to mark the last time that happens after the Godolphin homebred looped around his rivals to earn a “Win and You’re In” spot to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile along with 10 qualifying points toward the 2020 Kentucky Derby.

Under jockey Jose Ortiz, he headed favored Gouverneur Morris to complete a wide move off the far turn, then distanced to win by daylight, completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.21.

RELATED: Maxfield hits the Derby Radar with debut win

Maxfield, a son of Street Sense, similarly circled the field on debut. This time, he broke a tad sharper and benefited from chasing an opening half mile in 47.78. The pace setters tired, prompting Gouverneur Morris to inherit the lead having run fifth up the back stretch.

And then it was all Maxfield, who distanced 5 1/2 lengths away and showed himself as one to watch in the 2-year-old division.

“When he started rolling, I was just looking in front of him to see, ‘Are we going to get through? Is anything going to stop us?’” said Walsh, who saddled his first Derby starter earlier this year in Plus Que Parfait. “Because I knew he was going to run right to the wire.”

“We were just second best today," added Javier Castellano, who rode the runner-up. "He earned it and fought for second place, but the winner was the best horse in the race.”

The Breeders’ Futurity represented Walsh’s first Grade 1 win.

"I've been a lot of good horses," said Walsh, who used to train privately for Godolphin. "Them good horses breathe different air, and I think this horse is right up there."

Behind Maxfield, Gouverneur Morris ran second with Enforceable third in the field of 10.