Churchill Downs ‘TDN Rising Star’ Verifire Remains Undefeated with Maxfield Stakes Victory
‘TDN Rising Star’ Verifire (Authentic) maintained his perfect record Sunday, capturing the Maxfield Stakes at Churchill Downs with a commanding performance in his stakes debut.
The 3-year-old colt, purchased for $1 million at OBS March by Resolute Racing after initially selling for $260,000 at Keeneland September, has now won all three of his career starts.
Verifire earned his TDN Rising Star designation with a 6 1/4-length romp in his March 15 debut at Colonial. He followed that with an even more dominant performance at Pimlico on May 16, crushing an optional claiming field by 6 1/2 lengths as a 1-20 favorite.
Jockey Flavien Prat positioned Verifire comfortably off the pace as Smoken Wicked (Bobby’s Wicked One) set brisk fractions of :22.36, :44.56, and 1:08.34 for six furlongs.
[Spoiler Alert] When the field turned for home, Verifire pounced decisively, quickly dispatching the pacesetter and drawing clear to win by 2 3/4 lengths. His final time of 1:20.77 for seven furlongs came just 0.33 seconds off Groupie Doll’s 2012 track record.
“We’re very proud of his effort today,” trainer Brad 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.”
Smoken Wicked held second, while Captain Cook (Practical Joke) finished third. The winner returned $2.59 as the favorite.
Verifire is out of the stakes-placed mare Ruby Trust (Smart Strike), a daughter of Grade III winner Queen of the Catsle (Tale of the Cat). The dam has also produced a juvenile colt by Mckinzie and a yearling filly by Olympiad.
The victory pushed Verifire’s career earnings to $223,960 for Resolute Racing.
🔥 Verifire wins the Maxfield Overnight in style! @bradcoxracing trains and Flavien Prat was in the saddle.
🎥 TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/mwg9sMs7PY
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires)
🔥 Verifire wins the Maxfield Overnight in style! June 29, 2025
Maxfield Stakes Results
MAXFIELD S., $239,665, Churchill Downs, 6-29, 3yo, 7f, 1:20.77, ft.
1–VERIFIRE, 118, c, 3, by Authentic
1st Dam: Ruby Trust (SP, $145,212), by Smart Strike
2nd Dam: Queen Ofthe Catsle, by Tale of the Cat
3rd Dam: Kiawah Queen, by Lord At War (Arg)
($260,000 Ylg ’23 KEESEP; $1,000,000 2yo ’24 OBSMAR). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN.
O-Resolute Racing; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds LTD. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Flavien Prat. $146,560. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $223,960.
2–Smoken Wicked, 120, c, 3, Bobby’s Wicked One–Street Smoke, by Street Boss. ($38,000 Ylg ’23 BSLY&M).
O-Valene Farms LLC; B-Tom Curtis & Wayne Simpson (LA); T-Dallas Stewart. $37,600.
3–Captain Cook, 120, c, 3, Practical Joke–Pow Wow Wow, by Indian Charlie. ($410,000 2yo ’24 KEENOV).
O-St. Elias Stable; B-Marylou Whitney Stables, LLC (KY); T-Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. $23,800.
Margins: 2 3/4, 1, 4HF. Odds: 2.59, 4.82, 2.95.
Also Ran: Retribution, Speed King, Ancient World, Flood Zone, Kale’s Angel, Furio, Max Got Excited, Normandy Coast.
Scratched: Dreaminblue, Perfect Force.
