Maxfield blasted past favored Gouverneur Morris and won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity by 5 1/2 lengths on Saturday at Keeneland.

Off a mere one start, a closing one-turn-mile maiden win at Churchill, Maxfield negotiated both the move to two turns and the step up to high-level stakes competition and did so easily.

Under Jose Ortiz, Maxfield ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.21 and paid $14.80. Gouverneur Morris finished second by a half-length over Enforceable with Ajaaweed fourth. Well regarded Tap It to Win contended until the three-furlong pole but came up empty.

American Butterfly led through a half-mile in 47.79 but it was Gouverneur Morris who made the first serious move, racing wide on the far turn to take command with about a five-sixteenths of a mile left to run, but no sooner did he hit the front than Maxfield, making a strong, sustained rally, attacked and easily went past.

Brendan Walsh trains Maxfield for Godolphin and scored the first Grade 1 win of his career. Maxfield is by Street Sense out of Velvety, by Bernardini, and surely will next see action – all being well – in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Full recap up soon from DRF's Marty McGee.