Verifire Clinches Maxfield In Quick Time To Keep Record Perfect
Verifire sat just off the pacesetters, poked his head in front at the top of the stretch with a three-wide move and then rolled down the Churchill Downs stretch to dominate Sunday's fourth running of the $239,685 Maxfield Stakes (L) by 2¾ lengths over Smoken Wicked and remain unbeaten in three starts.
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Breaking from the post No. 9 in the field of 11 3-year-olds, Verifire tracked early leaders Captain Cook and Smoken Wicked, who set fractions of :22.36 and :44.56. Midway around the turn, Verifire swept three-wide to collar the leaders and hit the top of the stretch in front. He took command with three-sixteenths of a mile to run and held the field at bay for the fast victory in 1:20.77 for seven furlongs – only 0.33 off Groupie Doll's 2012 track record of 1:20.44.
Flavien Prat rode the winner for trainer Brad Cox and owner John Stewart's Resolute Racing.
'We're very proud of his effort today,' Cox said. 'He's a perfect 3-for-3 and the record speaks for itself. He was able to prove his first two races were very legitimate against a solid field this afternoon.'
Previously, Verifire broke his maiden at Colonial Downs in March and won a first-level allowance at Pimlico. His three victories have been by a combined 15½ lengths.
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Verifire, the 5-2 favorite, paid $7.18 for the win. Smoken Wicked, second as the 9-2 third betting choice with Brian Hernandez Jr. in the saddle, outfinished Captain Cook by a length for second.
Retribution was fourth and was followed by Speed King, Ancient World, Flood Zone, Kale's Angel, Furio, Max Got Excited and Normandy Coast. Dreaminblue and Perfect Force were scratched.
Verifire is a son of 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic out of the Smart Strike mare Ruby Trust. The $146,560 first prize boosted his career earnings to $223,960. He was bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds LTD.
The Maxfield Stakes is named in honor of Godolphin's eight-time winner. Maxfield was a two-time Grade 1 winner and won his career finale in the 2021 Clark (G1) at Churchill Downs.
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
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