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Maximum Security’s Return Doesn’t Answer Many Questions

The Week in Review, by Bill Finley

Just about everyone was prepared to either love or hate the performance of Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) in the GII San Diego H. Saturday at Del Mar. Either he would come back and dominate or he would struggle in his first performance outside of the notorious Jason Servis barn. There didn’t appear to be much room for a gray area.

But that’s where things have landed. He was good enough to win but not so good that he proved beyond any doubt that he is the same horse as he was throughout last year and when winning the $20-million Saudi Cup in February.

The optimist can point to a strangely run race in which Maximum Security set the early pace, was taken back by substitute jockey Abel Cedillo and dropped back to third. That’s not exactly the easiest way to win a race, but Maximum Security had a second run in him and just nipped Midcourt (Midnight Lute) by a nose. He showed a lot of determination. Plus, it was his first race in nearly five months and new trainer Bob Baffert admitted Sunday that he didn’t have Maximum Security fully cranked up.

“I actually thought he was pretty good right after the race being that I only had him about 80%,” Baffert said. “I didn’t think he’d have to do a stop-and-go movement [during the race] but he showed what a great horse he is.”

Baffert added that he considered the San Diego a small step in the process.

“It’s a good starting point, we learned a lot about the horse, now we’re caught up and he’s ready to go,” he said

Yet, it wasn’t unreasonable to expect something better than a nose victory in a Grade II race. This is the horse who was last year’s champion 3-year-old and right after the Saudi Cup was widely considered the best horse in training. The Maximum Security that won the GI Cigar Mile H., the Saudi Cup and crossed the wire first in the GI Kentucky Derby would have crushed the type of horses he faced in the San Diego.

That horse, of course, was trained by Servis, and every time one of his former horses races, everyone is left to wonder if they will perform for new trainers who are not using performance-enhancing drugs.

All of which is why one should neither write Maximum Security off or declare that he is back. There are just too many questions and there is plenty of time for them to be answered.

Baffert mentioned the GI Woodward S. at Saratoga as a possibility for Maximum Security, but it’s much more likely that he will go next in the GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 22.

“He’s got a lot of will to win, he’s courageous and a smart horse,” Baffert said. “There’s just something about him, he’s got a lot of will to win. He’s got a lot of W’s by his name and there’s a reason for that.”

But, for Maximum Security, the goal now goes beyond winning. He needs to not only win the Pacific Classic but to do it impressively and show everyone that he is the one to beat in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic.

As for the San Diego, I’ll give him a B- for a grade. That doesn’t mean there’s not an A+ performance yet to come.

Still No News Out of Saudi Arabia

It’s been 138 days since the running of the Saudi Cup and 129 days since Jason Servis was among a long list of individuals indicted for allegedly doping their horses. That should be more than enough time for Saudi racing officials to have concluded their investigation and determine whether or not Maximum Security will be disqualified and the purse redistributed. The ultimate decision may rest on whether or not any illegal medications were found in Maximum Security’s system after the race, but those tests should have been concluded months ago.

What’s going on? Another week has gone by without any answers.

Here’s what Director of Strategy and International Racing for the Jockey Club Of Saudi Arabia Tom Ryan told the TDN in an email last week: “Work on the Maximum Security investigation continues. At the moment it looks like we will be able to issue an official statement as a means of an update over the next week or so.”

Will Volatile and Vekoma Meet Up?

The expectations for Volatile (Violence) were so high coming into the GI Alfred Vanderbilt S. Saturday at Saratoga that not everyone was raving about his victory. A lot did go his way. Rival Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) broke through the gate prior to the start, which likely compromised his chances. And Volatile was somehow allowed to set about as slow a pace as you will ever see for a Grade I sprint race. The first quarter went in 23.46 and the half was completed in 46.67 before Volatile won by 1 1/4 lengths.

But that doesn’t mean this wasn’t a test for a horse who had never even run in a graded stakes race before, no less a Grade I. His three opponents had earned a combined $6,091,100 and Volatile beat them decisively. After campaigning Mitole (Eskendereya), who ran an uncharacteristically poor race last year in the Vanderbilt when third, trainer Steve Asmussen may once again have the best sprinter in the country.

But there’s at least one outstanding horse standing between Volatile and an Eclipse Award and that is Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}), the winner of the GI Runhappy Carter H. and the Gi Runhappy Metropolitan H. The Aug. 29 GI Forego at Saratoga seems like a logical spot for both Vekoma and Volatile, and if both show up, that may be the race of the meet.

Keeping An Eye on Kentucky’s COVID-19 Situation

For now, spectators will be allowed to attend the Kentucky Derby, but one has to wonder if that is about to change.

Churchill Downs made the announcement June 24 that it has received permission from Governor Andy Beshear to allow fans to attend the Derby week races during a short September meet at Churchill. At the time, the state was doing quite well in its fight against the coronavirus. According to the New York Times, on June 24 there were only 199 new cases of coronavirus in the state. On Sunday, 836 new cases were reported, the second highest total since the outbreak began.

“We’re not playing around with the numbers that we’re seeing,” Beshear said.

Had there been that many cases on a daily basis back in June, it seems highly unlikely that Beshear would have given the green light to having fans. Churchill has said that the amount of people allowed to watch will be limited, but haven’t said what sort of number they are targeting.

Around 50,000 seems like a reasonable estimate, which would be a public gathering that would be unprecedented since COVID-19 became a fact of life. Considering what’s going on, not just in Kentucky but around the country, it’s hard to imagine that happening. Beshear certainly has reason to reverse course.

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Uncle Chuck Breezes Six Furlongs At Del Mar In 1:12.20; Draws Rail For Shared Belief

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert dispatched undefeated (2-for-2) Uncle Chuck, comebacking Eight Rings and several other stable standouts for exercises Sunday morning at Del Mar, north of San Diego, Calif., in preparation for major upcoming assignments.

Uncle Chuck, a 3-year-old son of Uncle Mo who produced a four-length victory in the Grade III Los Alamitos Derby last out, went six furlongs in 1:12:20. Del Mar clocker Toby Turrell caught interims of :12.20, :47.80, and :59.80 with a gallop out to 1:26.00 for the solo work under Juan Ochoa. Uncle Chuck is entered and drew the rail for next Saturday's Shared Belief.

Eight Rings covered five furlongs in :59.20, tied with several others for fastest of 55 at the distance. The Empire Maker colt, who ducked in and hit the rail to unseat rider Drayden Van Dyke as the favorite in the 2019 Del Mar Futurity, is preparing for the second start of his 3-year-old campaign following a fifth-place of sixth as the favorite in the Batchelor at Oaklawn Park in April.

Three-year-old filly Gamine, winner of the Acorn Stakes in June who has been mentioned as a major candidate for the Kentucky Oaks or Kentucky Derby, went 6 furlongs in 1:12.60 for a possible start in the Test Stakes at Saratoga on August 8.

Four-year-old filly Fighting Mad, winner of the Grade II Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita on May 31, covered 5 furlongs in :59.40 preparing for the Grade I, $250,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes next Sunday.

“She likes this track and she's been working great,” Baffert said.

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Equine Rescues Expect To Feel Financial Effects Of Pandemic In Winter

A study out of Britain indicates that animal welfare organizations are expecting to struggle throughout the winter months as the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is felt.

The equine portion of the survey, which was conducted by the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) and the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH), was sent to 37 NEWC members and 126 equine rescues. Of those asked, 74 responded. Respondents feel that their organizations will be most impacted by the pandemic during winter months when welfare cases tend to rise because of the increase in costs associated with caring for horses.

It was noted that even with decreased donations, rescues still must attend to the animals in their care. British equine rescue and adoption agencies are once again placing horses into homes, but an increase in horses needing their assistance is expected.

There are nearly 850,000 equines in the United Kingdom with at least 7,000 of those animals were considered at risk before the pandemic hit. The rescues responded that they feel the pandemic will place additional pressure on equine welfare organizations, many of which are already operating at capacity.

Over 83 percent of the responding organizations, both large and small, reported that their fundraising has been impacted with the pandemic, with more than half reporting an income reduction of over 50 percent. Rescues that utilized shops to sell merchandise closed to visitors, greatly impacting their donations. More than 40 percent of organizations furloughed staff and over 70 percent had to reduce or eliminate volunteer help. Despite this bleak financial news, 62 percent of rescues still took in urgent welfare cases during lockdown.

An Equine Emergency Rescue Fund has been established to provide grants to British equine welfare organizations in need of financial assistance.

After Gate Scratch In Vanderbilt, Lexitonian Heading West For Bing Crosby

Calumet Farm's Lexitonian, trained by Jack Sisterson, was scratched at the gate of Saturday's Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., but was in good order Sunday morning breezing a half-mile under assistant trainer Mark O'Dwyer in 47.66 seconds on the main track.

Whitmore, assigned post 2 in the Vanderbilt, broke through the gate before the start of the race and was quickly pulled up by jockey Joel Rosario. Lexitonian, from the inside post, subsequently sat back on his haunches dislodging jockey Tyler Gaffalione and was scratched at the gate. The remainder of the four-horse field was backed out and reloaded with Volatile proving victorious.

“I think a horse's natural instinct when another horse breaks through the gate is to want to go after it,” said Sisterson. “He's such a competitive horse that when Whitmore broke through, he wasn't going to abide by Tyler. He wanted to go after that horse and that's just him.

“Mark was with him and looked at him at the barn after the race and the vet went over him and there were no issues,” added Sisterson. “Unfortunately, that's racing. You can't predict what's going to happen, but the main thing is he's okay.”

O'Dwyer said Lexitonian was in good order Sunday morning and moved comfortably during the swift half-mile breeze.

Lexitonian entered the Vanderbilt off a sharp optional-claiming win on May 29 at Churchill Downs that garnered a 95 Beyer Speed Figure. The Speightstown chestnut was expected to use Saturday's test as a springboard to the Grade 1, $300,000 Forego, presented by America's Best Racing, a seven-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds and up on August 29.

However, Sisterson said Lexitonian will now ship to Del Mar for a start in Saturday's Grade 1 Bing Crosby, a six-furlong sprint offering a berth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

“He ran such a fast Ragozin number at Churchill, a career high, we thought with that much of a leap forward you don't want to run back too quick,” said Sisterson. “So, we penciled in the Vanderbilt and if he ran well we'd go to the Forego. We had the plan for months and it didn't happen and now he's full of energy and needs to run, so if he comes out of the breeze well this morning, he'll go to the Bing Crosby at Del Mar.”

Calumet Farm and John Anthony Stables' American Tattoo, who was nominated to Saturday's Grade 1 Whitney, will instead point to next Sunday's $100,000 Birdstone, a 1 ¾-mile stamina test for older horses at the Spa.

Previously trained by Todd Pletcher, the Birdstone will mark the 5-year-old son of Not For Sale's first start for Sisterson. A five-time winner from 11 starts, American Tattoo was a Group 1 winner in his native Argentina capturing the 2018 Polla de Potrillos. He finished third in last year's Grade 2 Marathon at 1 ¾-miles in November at Santa Anita and won the 10-furlong H. Allen Jerkens in December at Gulfstream Park.

“He's training great at the moment at Keeneland. We have a great facility, thanks to Calumet, where we can train them and allow them to be a horse at the same time,” said Sisterson. “He gets turned out in his paddock every day and he enjoys that. He's bought into our system and really blossomed and come around. He acts like a distance type of horse in his breezes, and he gets better as he hits the wire and gallops out. I think the mile and three-quarters will suit him. If he runs well there, we'd look at the Calumet Cup for him at Kentucky Downs [on September 7].”

Calumet Farm's Vexatious, a 6-year-old Giant's Causeway mare, posted a career-best 100 Beyer when second last out to Monomoy Girl in the Grade 2 Ruffian on July 11 at Belmont and is slated to make her next start in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign presented by NYRA Bets, offering a berth in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Vexatious ran second in the Grade 3 Modesty on the Arlington Park turf last July in just her second start for Sisterson and followed up with a brave second in the nine-furlong Summer Colony, defeated a neck to Blue Prize who exited that race to win the Grade 1 Spinster at Keeneland and the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff at Santa Anita.

“She ran great in the Ruffian,” said Sisterson. “It was her third race off the layoff and typically, the way I train, they improve with racing. We leave a lot in the tank for them to improve and we thought she'd run a good race and she was second with a career high.

“In my opinion, she has the talent to be within a few lengths of any top filly in the country on her day,” added Sisterson. “Which she proved last summer finishing just a neck behind Blue Prize, who went on to the Breeders' Cup.”

Vexatious breezed a half-mile in 49.45 Saturday on the Saratoga main track with O'Dwyer in the irons.

“Mark knows her well and he called me after the work to say she feels as good as she has done going into any race she's run well in,” said Sisterson. “She's coming back in just two weeks [from the Ruffian], which is a concern, but I think she'll tell us when she's not doing well. She's held her coat well and eaten up, so she's telling us she's doing well.”

Sisterson said a prominent approach may be in the cards for Vexatious on Saturday.

“If it comes next week that Midnight Bisou scares people off and it's a short field with no speed in the race, I'd have no problem at all if Jose [Lezcano] wants to jump out and make all with her,” said Sisterson. “She's a true distance type of filly, but she can also run well at a one-turn mile and I wouldn't be afraid of jumping out and making all because of the distance because in my opinion she only gallops and stays. The further the better.”

Calumet Farm's Everfast, a closing second in last year's Preakness for former trainer Dale Romans, joined the Sisterson barn for his 4-year-old campaign. With blinkers on for all three starts this season, Everfast ran a good second in his seasonal debut on April 18 in an Oaklawn Park allowance and followed up with another strong second, defeated a half-length by Owendale, in the Blame traveling one mile on the Churchill Downs main.

Last out, Everfast was off-the-board in the Grade 1 Makers Mark Mile on the Keeneland turf on July 10.

Sisterson said the addition of blinkers have helped provide the former late-running Everfast a more prominent running style.

“He jumped and went forward in his race at Oaklawn and he was forward again in the Blame,” said Sisterson. “We gave him a shot in the Makers Mark Mile but he didn't handle the turf at all.”

Sisterson said the Take Charge Indy bay will make a return to dirt at Saratoga in an allowance sprint with an eye down the road to the Grade 1, $300,000 Forego presented by America's Best Racing at seven furlongs on August 29.

“He'll run seven eighths next Saturday at Saratoga,” said Sisterson. “That would be a prep for the Forego for him if all goes well.”

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