Gutsy Maximum Security noses Midcourt for San Diego victory

DEL MAR, Calif. – If there’s one thing that Maximum Security has displayed throughout his controversial career it’s a will to fight, be it on the racetrack or coming back from colic surgery last fall, and that tenacity was on display Saturday at Del Mar.

Maximum Security, looking as though he was in serious trouble midway through the Grade 2, $150,000 San Diego Handicap, somehow gutted out a narrow victory over Midcourt, getting the best of a head bob on the wire to win by a nose.

“There was never a doubt,” a relieved Bob Baffert, his new trainer, said in jest as he arrived at the winner’s circle. “That was sort of strange, but at least he got it done.”

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The San Diego was the first start on this circuit for Maximum Security and his first start for Baffert, who took over for owners Gary and Mary West and the Coolmore team of John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith after previous trainer Jason Servis was indicted on federal drug charges in March. He broke well, but yielded to first Midcourt and then to Higher Power through the first three furlongs, before steadily wearing down Midcourt in the final furlong after Higher Power retreated.

Higher Power was another 6 1/4 lengths back in third, then came Ax Man and Combatant, who leaped in the air at the start and was eliminated. Sharp Samurai was scratched in favor of Sunday's Grade 2 Eddie Read on turf.

Maximum Security, heavily favored at 2-5, paid $2.80 to win.

Over a fast but very dull main track, Maximum Security was timed in 1:44.54 for 1 1/16 miles.

“The track is so deep today,” Baffert said. “It’s two seconds off. I was counting on his class. He was nowhere near his best. I didn’t even put a gate work into him. Now we’re in good shape.”

Maximum Security, a 4-year-old colt by New Year’s Day, has now won 9 times in 11 starts, and his current earnings stand at just shy of $11.9 million.

Baffert marveled at how Maximum Security prevailed when seemingly beat. He carried career top weight of 127 pounds and gave five pounds to Midcourt, who is at his best at Del Mar, where he was unbeaten in two prior starts.

“He had every reason to get beat,” Baffert said. “It takes a great horse to do what he did. That horse he beat is not a bad horse.”

It will be interesting to see if Maximum Security goes forward from this race, as Baffert believes he will, because this was nowhere near his best, and there’s still a giant cloud over him. Maximum Security has crossed the wire first in 10 of 11 starts, but lost one victory via disqualification in the Kentucky Derby when he veered out 500 yards from the wire. Also, the purse of the Saudi Cup is still being disputed pending what Saudi racing authorities said nearly five months ago was owing to an investigation after Servis was arrested.

One thing is certain, the brilliance he has shown in most of his prior races was not on display. Perhaps it was rust.

“At least we got this out of the way,” Baffert said.

The next race, which Baffert said will be the Grade 1 Pacific Classic here Aug. 22, will be pivotal.

Maximum Security has been trained by Baffert to sit behind runners and close, and that came in handy Saturday. Abel Cedillo was riding him for the first time in place of regular rider Luis Saez, who did not travel from New York owing to travel restrictions on riders in place at both Saratoga and Del Mar. Maximum Security broke well and had the lead in the initial strides, but Cedillo let him drop back to third.

Baffert after the race said he thought perhaps Cedillo should have gone on with him. “Really gun up for the fight,” he said. “His weapon is his speed.”

But the track was playing toward outside lanes Saturday, and Maximum Security might have ended up in a better path.

“This horse is a fighter. I thought he was beat in the Saudi Cup," said Baffert, who ran fourth-place finisher Mucho Gusto in that race. “He does not give in.

“He reminds me a lot of Silver Charm,” Baffert added, referring to his first Kentucky Derby winner, in 1997. “In the mornings he’s a little lazy. That was pretty impressive. He should have been beat.”

But he wasn’t. It wasn’t his best, but his will to win made it good enough.