The Maxfield Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance seven furlongs on the dirt scheduled annually in late June at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
History
The event was named after Godolphin's Maxfield, who earned $2,001,812 from a record of 8-2-1 in 11 starts for trainer Brendan Walsh between 2019 and 2021. Maxfield, a Kentucky-bred son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, was a two-time Grade I winner. As a two-year-old, Maxfield won the 2019 Breeders' Futurity Stakes and won his career finale in the $750,000 Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs in 2021. Maxfield is the first horse to sweep Churchill Downs’ Alysheba Stakes, Stephen Foster Stakes and Clark Stakes in a calendar year.
The event was inaugurated on July 3, 2022, as the Maxfield Overnight Stakes over a distance of seven furlongs and was won by Winchell Thoroughbreds' Gunite, who started as the short 9/10 odds-on favorite winning by a length holding off My Prankster in a time of 1:23.08. Gunite was racing in his ninth start and was ridden by jockey Tyler Gaffalione. Later in his career Gunite would win the Grade I Forego Stakes at Saratoga.
In 2023 the event was moved to Ellis Park after Churchill Downs closed their spring meeting earlier due to a spate of injuries.
In 2024 the event was run as the Maxfield Stakes with Listed Status.
After two runnings of the event with Listed status, in 2026 the event was upgraded to Grade III by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.
Records Speed record: 7 furlongs: 1:20.77 – Verifire (2025)
Margins: lengths – Deep Flame (2026)
Most wins by a jockey: No jockey has no more than one win
Most wins by a trainer: 2 – Steven M. Asmussen (2022, 2023) 2 – Brad H. Cox (2025, 2026)
Most wins by an owner: No owner has no more than one win
Winners
Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Churchill Downs – Maxfield Stakes2026Deep FlameIrad Ortiz Jr.Brad H. CoxJuddmonte Farms7 furlongs1:21.43$250,000III2025VerifierFlavien PratBrad H. CoxResolute Racing7 furlongs1:20.77$239,665ListedMaxfield Overnight Stakes2024Raging TorrentAntonio FresuDoug O'NeillMark D. Davis7 furlongs1:22.04$173,700ListedAt Ellis Park2023 Ryvit Cristian Torres Steven M. AsmussenCorinne & William L. Heiligbrodt7 furlongs1:22.33$171,100At Churchill Downs 2022GuniteTyler GaffalioneWinchell Thoroughbreds7 furlongs1:23.08$160,000
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
External links 2025 Churchill Downs Media Guide – $250,000 Maxfield (Listed)
References