San Diego rivals Maximum Security and Higher Power work

Maximum Security and Higher Power stayed on target for the postponed San Diego Handicap with quick works on a busy Saturday morning at Del Mar that saw 245 horses credited with timed drills.

Both Maximum Security and Higher Power were originally scheduled to meet Saturday afternoon in the Grade 2 San Diego. But that 1 1/16-mile race was postponed by one week owing to the cancellation of racing at Del Mar this week following 15 jockeys testing positive on Tuesday for coronavirus.

Maximum Security flew through six furlongs in 1:11.60, the fastest work of 10 at the distance. He has not raced since finishing first in the Saudi Cup in February, his last start for Jason Servis before that trainer was indicted on federal charges related to illegal medication of racehorses. Maximum Security, last year’s champion 3-year-old male, is now trained by Bob Baffert.

:: Want to get your Past Performances for free? Click to learn more.

Higher Power worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 for trainer John Sadler, who recently sat out a brief suspension while assistant Juan Leyva was entrusted with the barn’s oversight. Higher Power won last year’s Pacific Classic at Del Mar, but is winless in four starts since. He most recently was second in the Hollywood Gold Cup.

Sadler worked two other top horses in his barn. The older female Ollie’s Candy went five furlongs in 1:00 as she prepares for the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch on Aug. 2. Combatant, who also was entered in the now-postponed San Diego, worked six furlongs in 1:13.80.

Among those Ollie’s Candy is expected to meet in the Hirsch is Ce Ce, who worked five furlongs in 1:01.60 for trainer Michael McCarthy. Ce Ce and Ollie’s Candy finished one-two in the Apple Blossom earlier this year at Oaklawn.

Ollie’s Candy’s work tied for the second-fastest of the morning at the distance with the unbeaten 3-year-old Cezanne, a Baffert trainee who is scheduled to make his stakes debut in the Shared Belief on Aug. 1

The top 3-year-old sprinter Collusion Illusion worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 for Mark Glatt. He is scheduled to run next in either the Allen Jerkens at Saratoga or against older runners in the Bing Crosby at Del Mar. Both of those Grade 1 races are Aug. 1.

Long-distance turf star United, coming off a victory in the Grade 2 Whittingham at Santa Anita on May 23, worked seven furlongs in 1:26 for trainer Richard Mandella.