Maximum Security the wild card in Florida Derby

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Ask the trainers of the leading contenders in Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby to talk about the opposition, and none seems to know what to expect when they get to Maximum Security. Ask Maximum Security’s trainer, Jason Servis, how he feels the undefeated former $16,000 claimer will perform in the important Kentucky Derby prep, and his answer is pretty much the same.

Maximum Security is clearly the mystery horse among the 11 3-year-olds entered in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, which carries 170 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and goes as the final event on an outstanding 14-race program. The card will also feature a mandatory payout of a Rainbow 6 pool that will start with a carryover of more than $3 million if the jackpot survives Thursday and Friday.

First post is 11:30 a.m. Eastern.

Maximum Security began his career in a maiden $16,000 claiming dash, winning off by 9 3/4 lengths here in late December. Fortunately for Servis and owners-breeders Gary and Mary West, there were no takers at the claim box.

“He was a homebred. It wasn’t like they had paid a lot of money for him as a yearling, and I think people claiming horses look at a homebred in a different way,” said Servis. “I just didn’t think we’d lose him. I thought he’d win that day, but obviously none of us thought he could be a Derby horse.”

Maximum Security was conservatively placed in his next two starts, winning a pair of starter-allowance races by 6 1/2 and 18 1/4 lengths. The 102 Beyer Speed Figure he earned for the second of those wins, going seven furlongs on Feb. 20, is the second-highest in the Florida Derby field.

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“I was very careful to hand pick the races after his maiden win,” said Servis, whose ability to select the proper races for his horses is in large part responsible for his incredible 46 percent success rate at the meet. “I wasn’t happy he was kept under pressure to win off as far as he did the second time. I really wish he didn’t run that fast because he becomes vulnerable to regress and bounce off a number like that.”

Servis explained the decision to try the former claimer in the Florida Derby.

“I don’t think the downside is terrible,” he said. “If he finishes fourth, it’s not the end of the world, and if he runs poorly, we can regroup. The upside is he’s 3 for 3 at Gulfstream, we’ve got Luis Saez riding and he’s been winning everything around here of late, and I think he’ll get the mile and an eighth unless he winds up in some pressured-pace type of deal. He is probably as big a mystery to me as everyone else. But it wouldn’t surprise me if he won.”

Hidden Scroll earned a 104 Beyer in winning his debut by 14 lengths going a mile in the slop Jan. 26. He is expected to be favored again Saturday while breaking from the rail despite his fourth-place finish behind Code of Honor as the 6-5 choice in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth four weeks ago.

Hidden Scroll set a ridiculously fast pace when pressed by longshot Gladiator King before tiring through the final furlong in the Fountain of Youth. Trainer Bill Mott said he doesn’t expect a similar scenario Saturday, when Hidden Scroll will be ridden by Javier Castellano.

“I think he’s moved forward a bit since his last start,” said Mott. “We’ve gotten a couple of nice works in him, put him in behind and outside horses, and he seems like he’ll do what you want him to do. It looks like he can rate; we’ve always felt that about him. I’ll let Javier make the call going into the first turn. Whether we go to the Derby or not is all based on this race. He’s got to run good enough to make you want to go and earn enough points so he can go.”

Code of Honor rallied from off the rapid pace under John Velazquez in the Fountain of Youth to take control near midstretch, then withstood a late charge from Bourbon War to register a three-quarter-length decision. Those two figure among the key contenders in the rematch, especially if another fast pace develops.

“I’ve got a little more confidence coming into this race, and he seems to be progressing the right way,” said trainer Shug McGaughey. “A mile and an eighth should be in his favor, as is having Johnny for his rider. He’ll just have to be patient with him like he was the other day.”

Bourbon War finished fastest of all while posting a career-best 93 Beyer in the Fountain of Youth.

“The late additions to the field have some pace, which is never going to hurt us,” said trainer Mark Hennig. “We haven’t done a ton with him [since the Fountain of Youth]. You’re at that time of year when you want to leave some juice in the lemon without squeezing him too much before the one that’s your ultimate goal.”

The remainder of the lineup consists of Harvey Wallbanger, idle since upsetting the Grade 2 Holy Bull on Feb. 2; Everfast, the runner-up in the Holy Bull but far back in the Fountain of Youth; likely pacesetter Hard Belle; and Current, Union’s Destiny, Garter and Tie, and the maiden Bodexpress.