Holly’s Holiday took the lead in the final furlong and pulled away to earn a one-and-three-quarter length victory in the $200,000 Valley Of The Vapors Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, April 18.
The sophomore filly became the second Stakes winner of the afternoon for her sire, Maxfield, who also saw his daughter Ivy Girl win the Weber City Miss Stakes at Laurel Park.
Patiently ridden by jockey Brian Hernandez, Holly’s Holiday raced in mid-pack as Knickleandime and Grace Is Free set the early pace. Content to track the leaders while saving ground along the inside rail, Holly’s Holiday was tipped out into the three-path for her run at the leaders as the field hit the top of the lane. She reeled in Grace Is Free in deep stretch and pulled away, crossing the wire an easy winner.
Holly’s Holiday was bred in Kentucky by Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds LLC, and is out of the Harlan’s Holiday mare, Blast, a full sister to Graded Stakes-placed Fun and a half sister to Stakes winner Home Run Maker (Into Mischief). Holly’s Holiday is a half sister to Velocity (Nyquist), winner of the 2025 G1 Del Mar Oaks and to the multiple Stakes-placed runner, Open Road (Quality Road).
In addition to Holly's Holiday and Ivy Girl, Maxfield's other runners include Del Mar Stakes winner Max Ciao, G1-placed Five Bars, Gun Runner Stakes runner-up Liberty National and Del Mar Stakes-placed Cosmic Heat.
Maxfield's fee for the 2026 breeding season is $50,000, live foal.
