Englishman Runs Away With Woody Stephens

Oh how the tables turned. C R K Stable's Englishman, the runner-up to Crude Velocity in the Pat Day Mile Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs five weeks ago, made short work of that rival and seven other 3-year-olds at Saratoga Race Course in the June 6 Woody Stephens Stakes (G1). To boot, the son of Maxfield tied the 7-furlong track record of 1:20.40, set in 1978 by Darby Creek Road in an allowance race. To further put an exclamation mark on Englishman's victory, the stunning bay colt won the race by 5 3/4 lengths. Englishman, trained by Kentucky Derby (G1)-winning trainer Cherie DeVaux, received the perfect trip under his regular partner Jose Ortiz. DeVaux and Ortiz won the Belmont Stakes (G1) with Golden Tempo later in the day. They stalked the pace of Solitude Dude through fractions of :21.98 and :43.97 over a track that had been playing glibly, both June 5 and Saturday. As the field turned for home in the $500,000 race, Englishman dispatched of Solitude Dude, but Crude Velocity, the 4-5 favorite under Florent Geroux, was launching his move. The notion, however, that the previously unbeaten colt would offer a serious challenge to Englishman was swiftly put to rest as the latter lengthened his advantage with every stride. "Last time, I had the No. 1 hole, so I had to (have my foot on the gas pedal) every step of the way and (Crude Velocity) beat me," Ortiz said. "Today, with a better position, I was going to run at my pace, and when I asked him to go, he was there for me." DeVaux expressed confidence earlier in the week that her colt whom she trains for Lee and Susan Searing, would benefit from cutting back in distance from the mile to 7 furlongs. "I do believe in the right situation and setup, we could run a mile. I think he's most effective at this distance, but in his last race, he just never got a chance to breathe," she said. "I think that was what really made the difference today." Englishman returned $10.56 as the second choice at 4-1. The Kentucky-bred owns a record of 3-1-0 in four career starts with earnings of $519,500. Englishman is Maxfield's first graded stakes winner. The son of Street Sense stands at Darley near Lexington. His 2026 fee was $50,000. Englishman is also the first graded stakes winner for his dam In It for the Gold. The mare is owned by Country Life Farm as part of a small breeding partnership after they bought the daughter of Speightstown for $75,000 at the 2023 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale while in foal to Authentic out of the Indian Creek consignment. Englishman, who was bred by Fifth Avenue Bloodstock, was bought at the same sale as a weanling by Avocet Bloodstock for $240,000. He sold again at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $400,000 with Mayberry Farm signing the ticket. Mike Pons, who owns the Maryland-based Country Life Farm with his brother, Josh, was on hand at Saratoga for Englishman's win. Pons said In It for the Gold would likely be sold at Fasig-Tipton's The November Sale this fall while in foal to Into Mischief. In March, she delivered a colt by Tiz the Law. "This is a thrill," Mike Pons said. "The little man can play a big man's game. It's beautiful. She'll probably go into the Night of the Stars sale with her baby in the fall. That could be a huge play for us. We don't get too many chances to hit one out of the park."