LEXINGTON, Ky. — Maxfield was discovered to have an injured ankle after a workout Wednesday at Keeneland and will miss the rescheduled Triple Crown series.
The 3-year-old colt was X-rayed after a half-mile workout, and a nondisplaced condylar fracture was found in his right front cannon bone. Maxfield will undergo surgery and miss the Triple Crown series, which was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It begins June 20 with the Belmont, although Maxfield was not expected to run in that race. The Kentucky Derby was pushed back to Sept. 5, and the Preakness is Oct. 3.
“This is a very disappointing event, obviously, but we are certainly grateful that Maxfield’s injury wasn’t worse,” said Jimmy Bell, president of breeder Godolphin. “We look forward to seeing him return to the races next year.”
A similar injury forced undefeated Nadal into retirement recently.
Maxfield won the Matt Win on May 23 and was scheduled to run in the Blue Grass next month for trainer Brendan Walsh. He won last year’s Breeders’ Futurity, a Grade 1 race, and was undefeated in three career races.