Max Ciao became the initial stakes winner for first-crop stallion Maxfield in scoring a narrow victory in the $101,000 I'm Smokin Stakes Sept. 5 at Del Mar.
The dark bay or brown colt came from just off the pace in a field of eight California-bred juveniles, edging Thirsty Rebel by a nose in covering 5 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:03.59. He paid $16.60 to win.
Armando Ayuso rode the winner for trainer Steve Knapp, who co-owns Max Ciao with partners Terry Lovingier and John Moroney. Max Ciao improved to 2-0-1 in four starts, and the first-place prize of $57,000 in Friday's race elevated his earnings to $117,000.
"I think he's going to get better and better every time he runs. I like this horse," Ayuso said.
Lovingier bred Max Ciao out of the multiple stakes-placed Flatter mare Bella Ciao. Max Ciao is her second winner from as many foals of racing age.
Knapp sees the potential for further improvement for Max Ciao. "There's so much more talent there and he's going to want to run longer," he said.
Maxfield, the third-leading first-crop sire in North America through Sept. 5, is a Godolphin homebred son of Darley's Street Sense . Maxfield won six graded stakes while racing from 2 to 4, with his biggest wins coming in the 2019 Breeders' Futurity (G1) at 2 and the 2021 Clark Stakes (G1) at 4. He stood this past breeding season at Darley for $40,000.
