Bob Baffert | Horse Racing Free Tips

Maximum Security to Return in San Diego Handicap

Unraced since crossing the wire first in the Feb. 29 Saudi Cup, Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) will make his next start on July 18 GII San Diego H. at Del Mar.

The story was first reported by the Daily Racing Form.

“He’s doing fantastic,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “We’re pointing for the San Diego and I couldn’t be happier with him.”

The San Diego, a mile-and-a-sixteenth race with a purse of $150,000, is a prep for the GI Pacific Classic on Aug. 13 at Del Mar and Baffert confirmed that that race is also on Maximum Security’s schedule.

Shortly after the Saudi Cup, trainer Jason Servis was indicted for allegedly using performance-enhancing drugs on his horses and owners Gary and Mary West decided to turn the horse over to Baffert.

“I’ve gotten to know him and he’s really nice to be around,” Baffert said. “He’s classy, just a dream to be around.”

Baffert said the Servis situation is something he is not focusing on.

“I really don’t want to get into that,” he said. “I just go by what I see on the racetrack and I see a really good horse when I see him on the racetrack. When I see him train I see a great horse.”

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Report: Maximum Security Pointing To Grade 2 San Diego Handicap

According to the Daily Racing Form, Eclipse Award winner Maximum Security will make his first start since February in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on July 18.

Bob Baffert, who took over training Maximum Security following the arrest for former trainer Jason Servis for charges related to doping Maximum Security and others, told the From's Steve Andersen the horse “looks fantastic.”

The colt is scheduled to work this weekend in preparation for the race.

Maximum Security was most recently seen in the $20 million Saudi Cup Feb. 29, which he won. Racing officials in Riyadh later announced they were holding the purse in that race pending the results of their own investigation following the arrest of Servis and more than two dozen others. That investigation was said to rely on getting details from FBI and others, which had gathered evidence for the U.S. federal case. That investigation remains active, according to statements by the U.S. Attorney in a status conference earlier this week.

Servis has entered a not guilty plea to the charges against him.

McKinzie Headlines Loaded Runhappy Met Mile

A talented and deep field of eight will line up for Saturday’s highly anticipated 127th renewal of the GI Runhappy Metropolitan H. at Belmont Park.

An unlucky second behind the mighty Mitole (Eskendereya) in last year’s contest, ‘TDN Rising Star’ McKinzie (Street Sense) figures to vie for favoritism. He was first or second in all seven of his starts in 2019, led by a win in Saratoga’s GI Whitney S. and a runner-up finish in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The four-time Grade I winner made up for a dismal performance in the inaugural $20-million Saudi Cup Feb. 29 with a good-looking victory in the seven-furlong GII Triple Bend S. at Santa Anita June 7. Hall of Famer Mike Smith makes the trip from Southern California to guide the 2-1 morning-line favorite.

“I think any time you win a Grade I on the East Coast it’s pretty important, especially at Belmont and Saratoga. It’s like hitting a home run in Yankee Stadium, it means something,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said.

“His comeback race was just perfect. If he brings his ‘A game,’ that’s what we’re looking for. He’s doing really well.”

Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}), winner of last year’s GI Runhappy Travers S. and GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S. over subsequent Classic hero Vino Rosso (Curlin) via disqualification, kicked off his 4-year-old campaign with a well-timed decision over Endorsed (Medaglia d’Oro) in the GIII Westchester S. in the Belmont mud June 6.

“He just grew up physically in his body and his mind,” Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said. “He’s gotten more aggressive and he’s caught onto what it’s all about now. He was still figuring things out last year, especially earlier in the year. Everything he’s done this year has been good. He acts like he’s ready to run.”

Moved up to second via disqualification in the GI Kentucky Derby, Code of Honor is three for four at Belmont Park, including a track-and-trip score in last July’s GIII Dwyer S.

Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}), well-beaten in last year’s Kentucky Derby, has found his niche racing around one turn this term. A sharp winner of Gulfstream’s Sir Shackleton S. Mar. 28, the chestnut realized a career high while earning a gaudy 110 Beyer Speed Figure with a jaw-dropping victory over Network Effect (Mark Valeski) in a sloppy renewal of the GI Runhappy Carter H. in Elmont June 6. Both wins were at seven furlongs.

The Runhappy Met Mile offers a free berth to the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in November at Keeneland.

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Baffert Double Tough in Los Al Derby

Following a disappointing spring which saw two top Bob Baffert trainees-Nadal (Blame) and Charlatan (Speightstown)-get bounced off the GI Kentucky Derby trail, the horseman emerges with a pair of live contenders in Saturday’s GIII Los Alamitos Derby. The more accomplished of the two is Albaugh Family Stables and Spendthrift Farm’s Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile), the winner of his first three starts, including last winter’s GII Los Alamitos Futurity and the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. Feb. 1. After fading to fourth behind stablemate Authentic (Into Mischief) in the Mar. 7 GII San Felipe S., the Florida bred faltered at the start of a soggy renewal of the Oaklawn S. Apr. 11 and came home a well-beaten 11^th as the 5-2 favorite. Flavien Prat, who was aboard for all three career wins, reunites with the colt, who sheds the blinkers in this return. Farther back on the experience spectrum, but seemingly not lacking in the talent department is stablemate Uncle Chuck (Uncle Mo). A front-running seven-length winner in his debut going a mile at Santa Anita June 12, the Watson, Pegram and Weitman colt has had a pair of maintenance breezes since that effort, including the most recent a six-furlong move in 1:12.4 June 28 (XBTV). Anneau d’Or (Medaglia d’Oro) showed promise at two, winning his debut at Golden Gates before finishing a close-up second in both the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Los Alamitos Futurity. Off the board in all three starts this seeason, including a fourth in the GI Santa Anita Derby June 6, the Peter Redekop owned colt will try to recapture some of his juvenile form while facing easier company.

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