When Will Maximum Security Race Again
In a world where seemingly everything is recorded, all of Maximum Security 's races are out there—including his ultra-competitive 2019 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) where he holds off every challenger and powers to the wire ane 3/4 lengths ahead of his closest rival.
Also readily bachelor for viewing is Maximum Security's courageous victory in the near lucrative race ever contested: this year's Saudi Cup where he well-nigh assuredly proved on the money—changing lanes in early stretch to surge past Mucho Gusto so hold off a late charge from Midnight Bisou .
In what is usually a simple sport that celebrates the beginning horse to the wire, those videos would usually tell the story: raw athleticism, focused determination, a champion. But in the case of Maximum Security at that place seemingly is e'er more than to the story. Events that would follow the ii same efforts have made his racing career i of the strangest in history.
While he reached the wire first in the Derby, the stewards then reviewed the race when objections were lodged. After looking at events, specifically an incident nigh the v/16th pole where Maximum Security came out several paths, the stewards reached a decision some 22 minutes after the race: Maximum Security was butterfingers and placed 17th—the first horse in history to be taken down for interference from an credible Derby victory.
An ensuing asking by owners Gary and Mary W to appeal the stewards' conclusion to the Kentucky Equus caballus Racing Commission was denied. That denial was contested in a Kentucky federal court, where information technology was tossed. That courtroom determination was appealed, only in belatedly August of this year the U.S. Courtroom of Appeals sided with the lower court'south conclusion not to hear the case.
The evening of the Derby, moments after a Churchill Downs official took dorsum the roses that had been given to his wife Mary, Gary West attempted to depict an event that no other owner had ever been put through.
"We've been in this game for twoscore years. In 2002 nosotros had Buddha; I retrieve he was the 2nd choice on the morn-line for the Kentucky Derby, and the equus caballus came up lame and didn't even get to run," West said. "So nosotros've had some big wins and some big losses, but this is the biggest. Yous tin can't have a bigger loss than this in horse racing."
While finishing starting time in the Derby only to take it taken away would sting the connections of whatever horse, DQs are part of the sport. The next headlines Maximum Security would be involved in were of more business organization.
Five days afterwards sending Maximum Security out to victory in the Saudi Cup, his trainer, Jason Servis, was among 27 trainers, veterinarians, and others indicted on federal charges related to doping horses. That indictment specifically alleges that a designer, performance-enhancing substance was administered to Maximum Security in 2019.
The indictment of Servis, which has not withal been resolved in court, saw the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia determine to hold the race's first-place pocketbook, $10 1000000, until the courtroom example against Servis was resolved.
During the 2018-20 timeframe of the indictment'due south accusations confronting Servis, the trainer doesn't take a single failed mail service-race drug test—a fact that could exist in the trainer's favor or could suggest shortcomings in a current organization highly reliant on mail-race tests that may be missing designer drugs.
BloodHorse reached out to Gary Westward, who has been in that location from the starting time of Maximum Security's rise from a maiden-challenge debut win to racing's heights, but he graciously declined—preferring to wait until his standout'south racing career ends for whatever summations.
The next finish for Maximum Security, in i of the oddest racing careers in history, volition be the $6 million Longines Breeders' Loving cup Classic (G1) where he'll exist amongst the favorites. Performance on the rail has never been a problem for the son of 2013 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner New year's day .
West did offering that Maximum Security, now trained by Bob Baffert, volition be facing some other high hurdle in this year'southward Classic equally he faces stablemates Improbable , who has won three straight grade 1 races; and 2020 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Accurate ; likewise equally Belmont Stakes Presented past NYRA Bets (G1) victor Tiz the Law ; among others.
"This is i of the deepest Breeders' Loving cup Classics in many years and if i of four horses wins this race, I think they should win Horse of the Yr," West said.
Baffert recalls existence impressed by Maximum Security's competitiveness after watching the champion iii-year-former of 2019 race for the first time out of his barn in the July 25 San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar. In his first race in about five months, Maximum Security led early, dropped back to stalk, then took dorsum sharply coming out of the first turn. Maximum Security surged again in the backstretch, making up footing. Turning for abode he drifted out earlier finally getting down to business, dueling with Midcourt through the stretch to prevail past a nose.
"The showtime time I ran him at Del Mar, he was in position then stopped. He came dorsum around but turning for home, he had every reason to go beat," Baffert said. "And for some reason I'm watching him thinking, 'If you lot're a great horse, you're going to get up.' And he did. Great horses—they find a way to win."
The 2019 Derby win-that-wasn't followed an unlikely ascension to the summit. Maximum Security debuted in a $16,000 maiden claiming race Dec. 20, 2018 at Gulfstream Park, went right to the atomic number 82, and drew off for a nine 3/4-length win. He followed with two victories in starter condition races before making his stakes debut in the Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1), which he led every footstep to score past 3 1/2 lengths.
Before the Derby, Servis said he initially didn't meet much in the mornings from Maximum Security. Baffert said to this mean solar day Maximum Security rarely looks like a champion before apex.
"He can be very deceiving," Baffert said. "In that manner he reminds me of Argent Charm. Silverish Amuse was very tough but whether I worked him with a stakes horse or a $30,000 maiden-claiming equus caballus, he was only going to outwork either one by a olfactory organ. That'due south but who he was—he'south non going to give yous anything extra in the mornings. And I can encounter why they ran this horse in a maiden $xvi. But one matter about information technology, he has some other quality that Argent Charm has that you can't mensurate, and that's heart. He has heart galore."
Maximum Security missed the terminal two legs of the Triple Crown but closed out his 3-twelvemonth-old season with victories in the TVG.com Haskell Invitational Stakes, Assuming Ruler Handicap (G3), and Cigar Mile Handicap (G1).
Before his iv-year-one-time debut in the Saudi Cup, owners associated with Coolmore Stud would buy in. After the indictment of Servis, Maximum Security would exist transferred to Baffert.
He won his debut for his new trainer in the San Diego, and followed with a iii-length win in the TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1). He'll enter Saturday'southward test off a runner-up finish to stablemate Improbable in the Awesome Again Stakes (G1).
Baffert said it was important to gain an understanding of Maximum Security when the standout was outset moved to his befouled.
"When y'all get a equus caballus like that, especially as he was trained a niggling bit differently than I train, I got to know him. I really got to know him probably the last few months—what he likes, what he doesn't like," Baffert said. "He'southward a big, stiff, heavy horse only he'southward got a tremendous middle and lung capacity. He doesn't ever come back bravado. … He tin can be empty and still continue finding more."
So Maximum Security will endeavor 1 1/4 miles for the tertiary fourth dimension Sat. His previous ii efforts at the distance? He won this year'south Pacific Classic—and he reached the wire showtime in last twelvemonth'due south Kentucky Derby.
Source: https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/244571/bc-classic-next-stop-on-maximum-securitys-wild-journey
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