Maximum security (outside) and Midcourt run towards the cable as a team in the San Diego Handicap
Making their first start for coach Bob Baffert, Gary and Mary West and top assurance from partners of Coolmore, the 2019 3-year-old men’s 3-time champion and winner of the $ 20 million Group 1 Saudi Arabia Cup, on 29 February. a successful return to racing on Saturday, winning the San Diego Grade 2 Handicap by a nose over Midcourt at Del Mar, near San Diego, California.
First ridden by Abel Cedillo – pinch hitter for regular driver Luis Saez – Ultimate Safety covered 1 1/16 miles in 1: 44.54 with 127 pounds as 2-5 favorite, giving Midcourt and the third highest ranked five pounds Power. Ax Man finished fourth, with Combatant last in the field for five senior runners. Sharp Samurai was scratched.
Maximum Security broke abruptly, but was soon overtaken by Midcourt and rider Víctor Espinoza, who made an aggressive move forward by rounding the first turn. Upon entering the rear section, Flavien Prat and Higher Power advanced alongside Maximum Security, and the latter momentarily verified and retreated several lengths behind the front center track.
Half the court established fractions of: 23.74 ,: 46.87 and 1: 11.40 during the first six furlongs as he was chased by Higher Power, with Cedillo swinging Maximum Security three from the rear and urging the colt to take up the pace with little less than a half mile to run.
San Diego Handicap Photo
The two horses separated from the Higher Power at the top of the stretch and went through the team mile marker at 1: 37.91. In the sixteenth final, Maximum Security put his head forward, but Midcourt approached the cable again, simply disappeared.
“It broke very well and we were out front,” Cedillo said. “So that horse outside of me (Midcourt) rushed in and I didn’t want to have to deal with him, so I just let him go. Then, in the back stretch, that other horse (Higher Power) appeared inside me, but I felt good. My horse was fine. When we got home I had to go to work. I knew I was going to do that. It is the type of horse you have to ride all the way. You have to keep working on it. We did it. I thought I had won the photo, but you can never be sure of those things. But it turned out well. “
“That was crazy,” Baffert said of the Maximum Security trip. “I knew I didn’t really have it ready for this race, we were going to use this to prepare for the next one. But we are learning about the horse. He won today when he had every reason to be beaten. He showed the great horse that he is today. He is a great fighter. I’m glad we’re done with this and now he’s in good shape. “
Maximum Security was transferred to Baffert after former colt trainer Jason Servis was arrested on federal criminal charges stemming from an FBI investigation into racehorse doping. The Saudi Arabian Cup bag was put on hold after the arrest on March 9 of Servis, his fellow coach Jorge Navarro and more than two dozen others.
Maximum Security, a 4-year-old foal for New Year’s Day who started his racing career in a $ 16,000 race at Gulfstream Park in December 2018, has won nine of 11 starts, including the Grade 1 Derby trio. Florida, Haskell Stakes and Cigar Mile. One of his two losses occurred when he first crossed the wire in the Kentucky G1 Derby, but was disqualified for interference on the stretch turn.
New to the Paulick report? Click here to subscribe to our daily email newsletter to stay up to date on this and other stories happening in the thoroughbred industry.
Copyright © 2020 Paulick Report.
