Even though he was a heavy favorite in the Grade 2, $150,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on Saturday, the odds were somewhat stacked against Maximum Security. He was returning to the races from a round trip to Saudi Arabia in February and a five-month layoff from the racetrack. He spotted his rivals as much as 9 lbs, and he was racing for a new trainer, had a new rider and he had never raced at Del Mar before. But Maximum Security paid these minor problems no attention and eked out a narrow win in the 1-1/16 mile featured event at the California racetrack.
Hustled out of the gate early by Abel Cedillo, Max grabbed the early lead but was overtaken by Midcourt as they straightened out on the first turn. Midcourt hit the 1/4 mile marker in 23.74 and Higher Power moved up and took over second place from Maximum Security. After Midcourt ran a 1/2 mile in 46.87, Max was still in third and almost 4-lengths behind the frontrunner. But as they approached the far turn, Cedillo put Max in gear and he passed Higher Power in second and took aim at the leader.
It was a spirited duel through the stretch where Maximum Security prevailed by a short nose at the wire over a very stubborn Midcourt. Higher Power finished third, Ax Man finished fourth and Combatant, who hopped in the air at the break, finished last in the field of five.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Maximum Security completed the 1-1/16 miles in 1:44.54 over a fast track and paid $2.80 to win as the 2/5 public betting choice.
The trainer acknowledged it was a strangely run race. "That was crazy," Baffert said. "I knew I didn't have him really drummed up for this race, we were going to use this to get ready for the next one. But we're learning about the horse. He won today when he had every reason to get beat. He showed what a great horse he is today. He's such a fighter. I'm glad we got this over with and now he's in good shape. There was never a doubt," the Hall of Fame trainer said in jest. "That was sort of strange but at least he got it done."
It was a great ride by Cedillo and he had to keep Max interested. "When we turned for home I had to get to work," he said. "I knew I was going to do that. He's the kind of horse you have to ride all the way. You have to keep working on him. We got it done. I thought I'd won the photo but you can never be sure about those things. But it came out right."
Maximum Security is a four-year-old colt by New Year's Day who began his racing days in a $16,000 maiden claiming race at Gulfstream Park in December of 2018. One of his two defeats came when he crossed the wire first in the Kentucky Derby but was disqualified for interference during the stretch run. Max now owns 9 wins from 11 starts and has earnings approaching $12 million.
He most likely will be seen next at Del Mar in the $500,000 Pacific Classic on August 22.
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July 27, 2020 at 09:18PM
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Maximum Security grinds out gutty win in San Diego Handicap - St. George Daily Spectrum
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