Irish Maxima

Irish Maxima, a Kentucky-bred Maximus Mischief filly, won her first two career starts by open lengths at Parx Racing and then Pimlico at sprint distances during fall 2023 before stretching out to one mile and moving up to test Grade 1 company in the Frizette Stakes at Aqueduct, where she finished fourth. She was then shortened back to sprinting but ran her worst career race to close out the season, finishing 10^th of 11 in the Fern Creek Stakes at Churchill Downs.

The bay filly did not begin her 3-year-old season until August 2024 for owner Irish Three Racing and trainer John Servis. Back in the Mid-Atlantic circuit, and she easily won her debut at Delaware Park and then shipped to Laurel Park to win her first stakes, the six-furlong Weather Vane Stakes. After a second-place finish to Benedetta in the Cheryl S. White Memorial Stakes at Mahoning Valley Race Course, Irish Maxima reached her best form over winter 2024-25, taking the Mrs. Claus Stakes at Parx and the Barbara Fritchie Stakes at Laurel Park back-to-back.

On April 5, 2025, Irish Maxima made her second career start at the graded stakes level and was sent off as the 4-5 favorite in the seven-furlong, Grade 3 Distaff Stakes at Aqueduct. With regular jockey Frankie Pennington riding, she controlled the pace early and kept her challengers at bay in the stretch, coasting to a 1 ¼-length victory.

The next stakes triumph for Irish Maxima came on May 9, 2026 in the Grade 2 $200,000 Ruffian Stakes going one mile at Belmont at the Big A. Irish Maxima came into the Ruffian off back-to-back impressive wins at the allowance optional claiming level at Parx and Aqueduct, and remained in career-best form in the Ruffian with a wire-to-wire win atop a seven-horse field.