Maxed Out Irish Maxima took it to the max to hold onto the $200,000 Ruffian (G2), Saturday at Aqueduct. With Frankie Pennington in the irons, the 5-year-old Maximus Mischief mare strode out to an early lead, watching her advantage balloon to 5 ½ lengths through the stretch. While fatigue began to set in around the final sixteenth, Irish Maxima held firm against a late rally from 9-1 foe Cassiar for the one-length triumph. The John Servis trainee’s 11th victory through 18 starts (11-1-1; $756,318) was her second at the graded tier, joining last year’s Distaff Stakes (G3), also at Aqueduct. Owned by Irish Three Racing, Irish Maxima (6-1), paid $14.44. On the Up Growth Equity’s stock remains on the rise after the Nyquist colt picked up his first graded stakes victory in Saturday’s $200,000 Peter Pan (G3) at Aqueduct. Competing in a condensed five-horse field, Growth Equity and Eclipse Award-winning rider Flavien Prat capitalized on the extra space by swinging four wide at the turn and pulling away for the confident two-length tally. That’s now back-to-back wins for the sophomore out of Wildcat Heir mare My Dear Venezuela, who stands at 2-2-0 with over $187,000 banked from four starts for owner Klaravich Stables. As the even-money choice, Growth Equity paid $4.04. Off the Schneid After 11 months and nine days, Durante found his way back to the winner’s circle with a hard-fought triumph in Saturday’s $175,000 John A. Nerud (G3) at Aqueduct. The accomplished 7-year-old gelding with more than $1 million in purse earnings to his name coming in turned back the clock with a furious final push to reach the wire a neck ahead of Acoustic Ave. Owned and trained by David Jacobson, Durante’s third career graded stakes success improved his overall line to 11-8-7 from 48 starts. At 7-1 in the John A. Nerud, he paid $16.50. Don’t Fret It was an eventful stakes debut for Marjoram, who went from last to first to steal Saturday’s $100,000 Senorita (G3T) at Santa Anita by a head. The 3-year-old Quality Road filly broke a step slow out of the gate, but instead of her rider panicking, she gradually climbed back into contention and struck with just enough runway left to get up past 3-2 choice Light Won Up for the victory. Trained by Michael McCarthy for breeder/owner Juddmonte, Marjoram’s first graded score was her second overall from three starts (2-0-0; $130,700). As the 7-2 second choice Saturday, she paid $9.20. Playmaker Outfielder’s return from a difficult showing in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) has gone swimmingly, as the 3-year-old Speightstown colt picked up his second straight stakes triumph in Saturday’s $225,000 William Walker at Churchill Downs. After getting back on track with a 4 ½-length Animal Kingdom Stakes score on March 21, Outfielder submitted another highlight reel effort to snag the William Walker by three lengths over 6-1 rival Sandal’s Song. Trained by Wesley Ward, who co-owns the sophomore bay with Amo Racing USA and former World Series Champion Jayson Werth, Outfielder is now four-for-six with nearly $455,000 in the bank. As the even-money favourite Saturday, he paid $4.06. Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine Share This:Share
