Maximum Security returns a winner in Bold Ruler

ELMONT, N.Y. – If Jason Servis thought Maximum Security was going to run like that off a three-month layoff he might have waited to him in the Breeders’ Cup.

Maximum Security, in his first start off a three-month layoff, made a rousing return to the races, with a 1 3/4-length front-running victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Bold Ruler Handicap at Belmont Park that should set the disqualified winner of the Kentucky Derby up for a return to Grade 1 company in his next start.

His connections have mentioned the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29 or the Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Dec. 7 as the likely next goal for Maximum Security.

Breaking alertly from post 1 under Luis Saez in the Bold Ruler, Maximum Security jumped to the early lead and ran an opening quarter in 22.90 seconds with True Timber within a half-length. When True Timber couldn’t keep up, Diamond King was right there after a half-mile in 45.22 seconds

Turning for home, Maximum Security opened up a clear lead, responding to a rigorous hand ride from Saez. In deep stretch, Saez geared Maximum Security down and he was never threatened by a rail-rallying Tale of Silence who finished second as the 23-1 longest shot in the field. It was 2 1/2 lengths back to True Timber, who was followed, in order by Prince Lucky, Diamond King, and Killybegs Captain.

Knicks Go and Wonderful Light were scratched.

Maximum Security’s final time of 1:20.76 was the fastest of 10 Bold Rulers run at seven furlongs. Maximum Security, a son of New Year’s Day, returned $3.20 as the 3-5 favorite.

“I didn’t think he was 100 percent, I’m thinking he’s going to run third,” an emotional Servis said afterward. “When he ran like that I was really saying to myself he is really a special horse.”

The win was the fifth of the year for Maximum Security and first against older horses. He owns victories in the Florida Derby and Haskell – both Grade 1 stakes – and crossed the finish line first in the Kentucky Derby only to be disqualified to 17th for interfering with several horses nearing the top of the stretch.

A month ago, Maximum Security was scratched from the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby due to a severe bout of colic that landed him in an equine clinic for one day.

In addition to not having run in three months, Servis was nervous about breaking from the rail Saturday because in his determination, “the rail was terrible.”

He even got a call from Maximum Security’s owner Gary West about it.

“We were actually thinking of taking him back,” Servis said. “I left it up to Luis.”

Saez had Maximum Security in two-path down the backside before going to the rail around the turn. He had Maximum Security in the two path in the stretch.

“He behaved so well in the gate. As soon as the gate opened he broke running,” Saez said. “I thought we were going to go a little slow, but we had pressure right away, he just kept going. When we came to the stretch I had a lot of horse and he just took off.”

The only true anxious moments came when Saez was galloping Maximum Security back to be unsaddled. He spooked from something and Saez jumped off, but he held on to the reins and Maximum Security did not get loose.

“He was just feeling so good, the people there were a bit noisy and he jumped,” Saez said.