Gary and Mary West’s Maximum Security was a little bit tired but no worse for the wear on Sunday morning after earning his third Grade 1 victory of the season in the $750,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The 3-year-old son of New Year’s Day, trained by Jason Servis, bolstered his bid for Champion 3-Year-Old with the wire-to-wire win, which garnered a career-best 111 Beyer Speed Figure. After breaking sharply under jockey Luis Saez, Maximum Security set swift opening fractions with Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile-victor Spun to Run pressing the pace while a close second. At the top of the stretch, Maximum Security shook away to a 3 ½-lenth victory.
A winner of the Grade 1 Florida Derby and Grade 1 Haskell Invitational, Maximum Security crossed the wire first in seven of eight starts this season, including the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby where he was subsequently disqualified to 17th for interference around the far turn.
“He looks good. He’s just a little tired,” said assistant trainer Henry Argueta.
Plans call for a possible start in the Grade 1, $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational on January 25 at Gulfstream Park. Maximum Security’s first four career starts, including a maiden claiming score for a thrifty $16,000 tag, took place at the Hallandale Beach oval. All were victories.
He will now likely ship to Servis’ primary winter stable at Palm Meadows Training Center in South Florida on Tuesday.
“I would have to think about it. He’s undefeated, four for four at Gulfstream,” Servis said. “We’ll probably give him two or three days and if the weather looks good temperature wise, then we’ll probably ship Tuesday.”
A Kentucky homebred, Maximum Security is out of the Anasheed broodmare Lil Indy, who produced a full-sibling to Maximum Security in Korea earlier this spring. Currently in foal to Quality Road, Lil Indy was acquired by Jane Lyon’s Summer Wind Equine for $1.85 million at this year’s Keeneland November Sale.
2020 Pegasus World Cup (G1) Possible Entrants – Jan 25.
Horse Sire Trainer Last Race
Omaha Beach
War Front
R. Mandella
2nd, 2019 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1)
Maximum Security
New Year’s Day
J. Servis
1st, 2019 Cigar Mile (G1)
Bravazo
Awesome Again
D. Lukas
8th, 2019 Clark Stakes (G1)
Prince Lucky
Corinthian
T. Pletcher
4th, 2019 Bold Ruler (G3)
Tax
Arch
D. Gargan
2nd, 2019 Discovery Handicap (G3)
Gronkowski
Lonhro
S. Ghadayer
2nd, 2019 Dubai World Cup (G1)
Master Fencer
Just a Way
K. Tsunoda
1st, Chu Allow (11/30/2019-R11)
Tom’s d’Etat
Smart Strike
A. Stall, Jr.
1st, 2019 Clark Stakes (G1)
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