Maximum Security stands out in fog as he trains for BC Classic

ARCADIA, Calif. – Fog enveloped much of Santa Anita for a good part of Sunday morning's training, but more than enough of the track could be seen around 6:30, when it was clear Maximum Security is training strongly for his upcoming start in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland.

Maximum Security is most often, at best, an indifferent work horse, but he was a willing and eager worker Sunday, putting away his company with ease while completing a five-furlong drill in 59.80 seconds, after which he galloped-out an additional furlong.

The reaction from trainer Bob Baffert was immediate and confirming.

“I think that was the best he’s ever worked,” said Baffert, who began training the horse earlier this year.

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Maximum Security was most recently second to stablemate Improbable in the Awesome Again here on Sept. 26. This was his second work since then, and he has two more to go each of the next two weekends before departing for Kentucky.

The foggy conditions Sunday morning tightened up the track, and it’s obvious from how Maximum Security has performed on loose tracks – like in the San Diego, in which he narrowly prevailed by a nose, compared to the Pacific Classic, which he won by three lengths – that he prefers a firm surface.

“He doesn’t like a really deep track,” Baffert said.

Baffert has a three-headed monster heading to the Classic. In addition to Maximum Security and Improbable, he’ll also send out Authentic, who merely has a Kentucky Derby win and Preakness runner-up finish on his resume.

Both Authentic and Improbable worked on Saturday, with Authentic going five furlongs in 59.80 seconds and Improbable doing six furlongs in 1:12.40. Juan Ochoa, the former jockey who has become Baffert’s go-to workout rider, was aboard those two on Saturday and Maximum Security on Sunday.

Baffert watched Maximum Security’s work from the box-seat section near the finish line, then made his way to the outside rail following the work so he could have a quick update from Ochoa as Maximum Security jogged back, headed home.

“Blowing much?” Baffert inquired.

“Not at all,” Ochoa replied.

The fog thickened to such an extent by the 7:30 renovation break that track clockers were unable to properly record several works at that time, though they did give Test winner Gamine a clocking of 1:00 for five furlongs. Gamine, who worked in company, is headed to the BC Filly and Mare Sprint.

Spielberg, like Maximum Security and Gamine trained by Baffert, worked after the 9 a.m. renovation, and by then the fog was gone, as though directed so. Spielberg, in company, went five furlongs in 59.20 seconds, the fastest of the 38 works at the distance for which horses were timed Sunday. He most recently was third in the American Pharoah, and will make his next start in the BC Juvenile on Nov. 6.