Maximum Security moved to Baffert's barn

Maximum Security, the 2019 3-year-old champion and recent winner of the inaugural $20 million Saudi Cup, will be moved to trainer Bob Baffert in the wake of the indictment of the horse’s trainer, Jason Servis, co-owner Gary West said in a statement released early Tuesday morning.

In the statement, West said that all of his horses will be moved from Servis “as soon as arrangements can be made with other trainers.” But he also said that the decision has already been made to send Maximum Security to Baffert.

“This news is extremely disturbing and disappointing,” West said, in reference to the indictment.

Baffert said in a text message Tuesday morning that West had called him last night to ask if he would train the horse “after he got a freshening.” Maximum Security is currently in quarantine in Chicago after returning from Saudi Arabia, but he is expected to be released in several days.

Servis was one of four Thoroughbred trainers indicted Monday, along with 23 other individuals, many of whom were alleged to have been involved in manufacturing and distributing substances that the indictments referred to as “illegal.” The indictment specifically referred to Maximum Security receiving an illegal medication approximately 11 days prior to the June 16 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park last year.

Jorge Navarro was another high-profile trainer indicted Monday. Gary Hartunian, the owner of Rockingham Ranch, which has numerous horses with Navarro, said on Twitter on Tuesday morning that all of Rockingham’s horses with Navarro are “being picked up at Palm Meadows today and will be sent to trainer Brad Cox.”

However, Cox said Tuesday that he was not taking over training of the Rockingham Ranch horses.

"Given the circumstances over the last 24 hours, I just don't feel comfortable taking any horses from that barn," Cox said.

– additional reporting by Marcus Hersh and Jay Privman