It took Maxfield 21 days to go from maiden winner to Grade I winner, and he did it in a manner that suggests a world of unfulfilled potential. After practically walking out of the gate in his maiden race, only to circle the field and win anyway, he got off to another slow start in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (USA-I). Given a patient ride by Jose Ortiz, he came storming down the center of the track in the stretch to win by 5-1/2 lengths. With the victory, the son of Street Sense earned a "Win and You're In" berth to the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (USA-I), where he may well be the favorite.
Maxfield is a thoroughly well-bred horse top and bottom, but at least a little of his exceptional talent may come by way of Busanda. One of a breed-shaping clutch of War Admiral mares sired on daughters of La Troienne, Busanda was probably the best stayer sired on that cross, winning the 1951 Suburban Handicap and two editions of the Saratoga Cup against males. Aside from producing the great Buckpasser, the 1966 Horse of the Year and a four-time American champion broodmare sire whose influence is still felt today, Busanda also successfully bred on in the female line through her daughters Navsup, Oak Cluster and Finance.
Finance, a daughter of Nasrullah, was the least successful during her own broodmare career. After failing to produce a live foal during her first five seasons on the paddocks, she finally managed to produce four foals, of which two won.
It was her last foal, the Round Table mare La Mesa, that made persevering with Finance worthwhile. While La Mesa won only one of her 12 starts, she produced 1984 American champion 2-year-old filly Outstandingly (by Exclusive Native) as her fifth named foal. Outstandingly, in turn, produced English Group II winner Sensation (by Soviet Star) and listed stakes winner Superiority (by Arazi) and is the second dam of Grade/Group III winners Fortitude and Systematic.
La Mesa also produced Outstandingly's Grade III-winning half sister Lovelier (by Affirmed), but the gem among her daughters as a broodmare was Lovelier's full sister La Affirmed. A winner once in eight starts, La Affirmed produced Grade II winner Della Francesca (by Danzig) and Grade III winners Bernstein (a champion sire and increasingly important broodmare sire in Argentina), Caress and Country Cat (all by Storm Cat). Caress, in turn, produced 2002 Hopeful Stakes (USA-I) winner and good sire Sky Mesa (by Pulpit) and multiple Grade III winner Golden Velvet (by Seeking the Gold; dam of Grade III winner Innovative Idea, by Bernardini, and stakes winner Lucullan, by Hard Spun). Through her daughter Velvety, Caress is the second dam of Maxfield.
Busanda's branch of the great La Troienne family has never been quite as prolific as those descended through her close relatives Striking and Searching, but if her produce had been limited to Buckpasser alone, Busanda would have done more than enough to etch her name into bloodstock annals. Her descendant Maxfield still has a long way to go to prove himself in that class as a runner or sire, but for now, he can be accounted a worthy heir of a line that has had no trouble paying its way.
Maxfield is a thoroughly well-bred horse top and bottom, but at least a little of his exceptional talent may come by way of Busanda. One of a breed-shaping clutch of War Admiral mares sired on daughters of La Troienne, Busanda was probably the best stayer sired on that cross, winning the 1951 Suburban Handicap and two editions of the Saratoga Cup against males. Aside from producing the great Buckpasser, the 1966 Horse of the Year and a four-time American champion broodmare sire whose influence is still felt today, Busanda also successfully bred on in the female line through her daughters Navsup, Oak Cluster and Finance.
Finance, a daughter of Nasrullah, was the least successful during her own broodmare career. After failing to produce a live foal during her first five seasons on the paddocks, she finally managed to produce four foals, of which two won.
It was her last foal, the Round Table mare La Mesa, that made persevering with Finance worthwhile. While La Mesa won only one of her 12 starts, she produced 1984 American champion 2-year-old filly Outstandingly (by Exclusive Native) as her fifth named foal. Outstandingly, in turn, produced English Group II winner Sensation (by Soviet Star) and listed stakes winner Superiority (by Arazi) and is the second dam of Grade/Group III winners Fortitude and Systematic.
La Mesa also produced Outstandingly's Grade III-winning half sister Lovelier (by Affirmed), but the gem among her daughters as a broodmare was Lovelier's full sister La Affirmed. A winner once in eight starts, La Affirmed produced Grade II winner Della Francesca (by Danzig) and Grade III winners Bernstein (a champion sire and increasingly important broodmare sire in Argentina), Caress and Country Cat (all by Storm Cat). Caress, in turn, produced 2002 Hopeful Stakes (USA-I) winner and good sire Sky Mesa (by Pulpit) and multiple Grade III winner Golden Velvet (by Seeking the Gold; dam of Grade III winner Innovative Idea, by Bernardini, and stakes winner Lucullan, by Hard Spun). Through her daughter Velvety, Caress is the second dam of Maxfield.
Busanda's branch of the great La Troienne family has never been quite as prolific as those descended through her close relatives Striking and Searching, but if her produce had been limited to Buckpasser alone, Busanda would have done more than enough to etch her name into bloodstock annals. Her descendant Maxfield still has a long way to go to prove himself in that class as a runner or sire, but for now, he can be accounted a worthy heir of a line that has had no trouble paying its way.
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