Liberty National (c, 2, Maxfield–Virtuoso, by Awesome Again) became the fourth ‘TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard’ for his freshman sire (by Street Sense) with an impressive performance at second asking around two turns at Churchill Downs Saturday afternoon.

The 4-1 chance was bumped by a rival at the start and found a fantastic spot in a ground-saving sixth beneath Brian Hernandez, Jr. through a half mile in :48.57. Locked and loaded on the far turn, he was tipped out at the quarter pole and took off impressively down the lane to graduate with honors by 4 1/4 lengths. Stirring Words (Constitution) was second.

Liberty National was a well-beaten sixth in a live maiden special weight going seven furlongs at Keeneland in his debut for trainer Ken McPeek Oct. 16 behind fellow ‘Rising Star’ Dr. Kapur (McKinzie), who set the pace and tired to sixth in Saturday’s GII Kentucky Jockey Club S.

Liberty National, a $525,000 Keeneland September yearling, is the 19th winner for Maxfield. His unraced dam, a full-sister to GISW Paynter, produced a colt by McKinzie this year and was bred back to Maxfield. This is also the female family of legendary two-time GI Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and leading sire Tiznow.

7th-Churchill Downs, $123,035, Msw, 11-29, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.41, ft, 4 1/4 lengths.
LIBERTY NATIONAL, c, 2, by Maxfield
                1st Dam: Virtuoso, by Awesome Again
                2nd Dam: Tizso, by Cee’s Tizzy
                3rd Dam: Cee’s Song, by Seattle Song
Sales history: $525,000 Ylg ’24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $70,675. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Brookdale Racing, Inc. & Fern Circle Stables; B-Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek.