We knew he was fast, and he more than justified the favoritism here. Juddmonte's Deep Flame (Into Mischief) could not be caught in the lane, striding home under little pressure to claim his first black-type victory in the GIII Maxfield Stakes.Off well to stalk the early pace as Prize Pick (Tiz the Law) posted opening fractions of :22.40 and a half-mile in:44.77, Deep Flame was never far away from the front as 'TDN Rising Star, presented Hagyard' Brant (Gun Runner) kept him company going into the turn. Asked to take over the lead as they swung for home, the Brad Cox-trainee immediately put several lengths on his competition and the race was more or less over by midstretch.American Man (Maclean's Music) closed well for second and Igniter (Volatile), who was in another zip code after the break, overhauled Brant for third.The final time was 1:21.43.Deep Flame debuted Feb. 14 at Fair Grounds, running second, and came back Apr. 4 at Keeneland to post another runner-up effort. He was last seen breaking his maiden May 17 at this track by seven lengths. Deep Flame wins the Maxfield Stakes (GIII) with Irad Ortiz aboard! pic.twitter.com/r2NJfmbne0— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) June 28, 2026Sunday, Churchill DownsMAXFIELD S.-GIII, $250,000, Churchill Downs, 6-28, 3yo, 7f, 1:21.43, ft.1–DEEP FLAME, 118, c, 3, by Into Mischief 1st Dam: Barbadia, by Speightstown 2nd Dam: Willstar, by Nureyev 3rd Dam: Nijinsky Star, by Nijinsky II1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN.O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.$152,760. Lifetime Record: 4-2-2-0, $255,156.Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–American Man, 118, c, 3, Maclean's Music–American Doll,by Tiznow. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.($120,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $475,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR).O-Gervais Racing LLC; B-Woods Edge Farm, LLC (KY);T-Dallas Stewart. $49,600.3–Igniter, 120, c, 3, Volatile–Malibu Prayer, by Malibu Moon.1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC(Goncalo B. Torrealba) (KY); T-Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.$24,800.Margins: 5 3/4, 1, 1HF. Odds: 1.25, 9.24, 7.31.Also Ran: Brant, Prize Pick, Oscar's Hope. Scratched: Crown the Buckeye, Spun D M C.Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.The post Into Mischief’s Deep Flame Sizzles in Maxfield on Graded Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.