Maximum Security starts over in San Diego Handicap; will carry 127

Maximum Security has just about done it all. One wonders if he can do it again.

The most accomplished male Thoroughbred in the country starts over Saturday at Del Mar with a new trainer and jockey, on a different surface, shadowed by the same cynicism that has followed him since his former trainer was indicted on charges of administering illegal medications.

So, it’s a simple question facing Maximum Security on Saturday – will the 4-year-old colt deliver the same type performance for Bob Baffert that he delivered for Jason Servis?

“Everything I’ve seen, I’ve seen a really good horse breeze, a really good horse train,” Baffert said. “He’s a big, beautiful, strong horse.”

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He also has a unique past – $16,000 maiden-claiming debut winner, first in the Kentucky Derby but disqualified for interference, colic last summer, multiple Grade 1 winner, and $20 million Saudi Cup winner in February, followed by the Servis bombshell in March.

A roller coaster is level compared to the career of Maximum Security, so it was hardly a surprise when his California debut was postponed by one week from July 18. No matter for Maximum Security. He worked a bullet six furlongs at Del Mar the same day.

All told, Maximum Security has crossed the wire first in nine of 10 starts with one second, and will be strongly favored Saturday against Higher Power, Midcourt, and Ax Man in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at a mile and a sixteenth. Combatant and Sharp Samurai also were entered, but could scratch and run Sunday in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes on turf.

It’s been five months since Maximum Security ran, and a lot has happened since. After Servis was indicted and his stable dispersed, Maximum Security was turned out for a month in Kentucky and given a comprehensive physical by Dr. Larry Bramlage, who green-lighted a return to training. Owner-breeders Gary and Mary West, who last year sold a half-interest in the horse to Coolmore, needed a trainer. They rang Baffert.

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“Gary called and said, I guess you know what’s going on,” Baffert recalled. “He said, ‘Would you take this horse? I don’t know if you’d be interested in taking on something like that.’ I said sure, of course.”

Maximum Security arrived in California in April and began workouts in June while Baffert learned his idiosyncrasies. “He’s a little bit of a lazy horse. He’s lazy in the morning, so I can see why they might have run him for $16,000,” he said.

Baffert works Maximum Security in company to compensate for the colt’s indifference, and he is confident he will run well Saturday: “He’s actually very easy to train. He’s real classy. He’s a big, aggressive horse. You’ve got to watch him closely. If he’s feeling good, all of the sudden he’ll leap up in the air, just out of feeling good.”

Although he “won” the Kentucky Derby, Maximum Security is not built like a mile and one-quarter horse. “When you look at him, you wouldn’t think he could go that far,” Baffert said. “He looks like a Quarter Horse; he’s built like a Quarter Horse.”

Abel Cedillo subs for Luis Saez on Maximum Security, the 127-pound highweight. He will wear the Coolmore silks in the San Diego. Saez will regain the mount on Maximum Security next out and will wear the West silks in his to-be-determined next start.

Although Maximum Security is the star on Saturday, Del Mar horse-for-course specialists Higher Power and Midcourt enter with proper credentials to upset the San Diego.

Higher Power won the 2019 Pacific Classic at Del Mar, ran third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, then finished last in the Pegasus World Cup in January at Gulfstream Park. He returned to form last out by finishing second in the Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita.

“It was a solid second coming off the bad race,” trainer John Sadler said regarding the Gold Cup. “The plan was to train him into the Pacific Classic. But he’s done so well since the Gold Cup, and obviously he has an affinity for this track. I can run him twice here.”

The Grade 1, $500,000 Pacific Classic will be run Aug. 22. In the San Diego, Flavien Prat rides Higher Power. Midcourt and Higher Power will carry 122 pounds,

Midcourt puts blinkers back on while trying to rebound after finishing more than 23 lengths back in the Gold Cup. Prior to that race, Midcourt wore blinkers in every start.

“He’d been training so well [without blinkers], and the race before he really didn’t see [Combatant] on the far outside,” trainer John Shirreffs said referring to his Santa Anita Handicap third. “We thought maybe he’d be better without [blinkers], so we tried it, but it really didn’t work out as well.”

Victor Espinoza rides Midcourt, who is expected to produce speed from the outside post. Midcourt is 2 for 2 at Del Mar, including a romping win in the Grade 3 Native Diver last fall.

Ax Man, gate-to-wire winner of an allowance sprint last out, helps ensure a legitimate pace. Mike Smith rides Ax Man, who is trained by Baffert.