Maxfield to bypass the Belmont Stakes in favor of Blue Grass

The connections of Grade 1 winner Maxfield are hoping to reach the summit not later this month, but on Sept. 5 in the 2020 Kentucky Derby.

That, trainer Brendan Walsh said, was key in the camp's decision to bypass the June 20 Belmont Stakes.

Instead, the Godolphin homebred son of Street Sense will target the July 11 Blue Grass Stakes (G2) during Keeneland's abbreviated summer meet, in which Maxfield can run out of his own stall in Lexington, Ky.

"The main aim of the horse is trying to win the Derby," Walsh said. "That's been a major goal for Godolphin since they've been around. They want to take the best approach to peak at Derby time."

Maxfield, who went 2-for-2 in 2019 with a commanding run in Keeneland's Breeders' Futurity (G1), got a late start to 2020 due to a minor bone chip surgery that counted him out of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He was strong on return, blasting off with a familiar, sweeping run to the front in the May 23 Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.

"We've got a race on our doorstep where we don't have to ship him," Walsh said of the Blue Grass, and in a unique season where the Belmont has shortened to 1 1/8 miles, "we can keep him at two turns, which I think is essential. We can run him on a track that we know he acts on and he trains on every day."

The Matt Winn awarded 50 Derby qualifying points to its winner on the extended Derby trail, adding to Maxfield's 10 from the Breeders' Futurity. The Blue Grass is a major 100-40-20-10 prep at nine furlongs.

"When we think about it, it just makes sense for him," Walsh said. "He's still maturing. He's still learning. I think just a bit more time as well from his last start will do him good."