Danon Bourbon made every post a winning one when he rolled to a 10-length victory over 15 rivals in a nine-furlong maiden race at Kyoto Race Course on Sunday, Oct. 26.
The two-year-old Maxfield colt became the 17th winner for his freshman sire, and the second so far in Japan, joining Magna Victor, who won by 10 lengths in his debut at Hanshin in September.
Breaking alertly out of the starting gate, Danon Bourbon quickly went straight to the front, where he settled into a comfortable gallop under jockey Kohei Matsuyama. The dark bay colt held a one-length lead over G T Picasso, with Saimon Exceller just a half-length further back in third.
Danon Bourbon continued to hold his lead over his rivals throughout the early stages of the race while saving ground along the rail. Once the field hit the top of the homestretch, however, Danon Bourbon hit another gear and took off, instantly opening up four to five lengths on the rest of the field. He continued to extend his lead through the stretch and to the finish line, eventually hitting the wire 10 lengths in front.
Danon Bourbon was bred in Kentucky by Blue Heaven Farm and was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida for $450,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September yearling sale. He is out of the winning Tapit mare, Wild Ridge, and is a half-brother to Stakes-placed Clubhouse (Speightstown). Wild Ridge is out of the multiple Graded Stakes-winning mare, Wild Gams (Forest Wildcat), and is a half-sister to Graded Stakes winners Cazadero (Street Sense) and Dubyuhnell (Good Magic), and to Stakes-placed Mt. Brave (Malibu Moon).
In addition to Danon Bourbon, Maxfield's other first-crop winners include his most recent TDN Rising Star, Englishman; Max Ciao, winner of the I’m Smokin Stakes at Del Mar; Saratoga debut winners Five Bars (recently third in the G1 Frizette), Boomington and Rock It Rob; recent Keeneland winners Tingus Pingus and Lady Valor, and recent Santa Anita maiden winner, Cosmic Heat.
Maxfield will stand the 2026 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for $50,000, stands and nurses.
