TVG Pacific Classic | Horse Racing Free Tips

Maximum Effort

Whether you love him or have mixed feelings about him, there is one thing about Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) that is very hard to dispute: he is an outstanding racehorse.

Prohibitively favored at 40 cents on the dollar to take Saturday’s GI TVG Pacific Classic in his second start since being transferred to the barn of Bob Baffert, the bay absorbed race-long pressure but, realistically speaking, never looked like losing in securing an all-expenses-paid berth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic in early November. When the dust had settled, the 4-year-old had a margin of three lengths on a very game and persistent Sharp Samurai (First Samurai), while Midcourt (Midnight Lute)–who almost stole the show in the GII San Diego H. last time out-came home a well-beaten third.

“We mapped it out that he’s the quickest horse, he’s ready and now you can ride him with a lot more confidence. Once he took the lead I figured he’d be fine,” said trainer Bob Baffert, winning the marquee race of the Del Mar meet for the sixth time, equaling the record of the great Bobby Frankel. “‘Max’ was relaxing really nice. He was a totally different horse today. [Maximum Security] just does things effortlessly. He wasn’t even blowing when he came back. I’m just so happy for this horse. It’s not his fault what he went through. Today he showed that he is a great horse.”

Having won the inaugural Saudi Cup in February, Maximum Security was making his debut for Baffert in the San Diego in the aftermath of the federal indictment of trainer Jason Servis. Adding further intrigue to an already complicated situation was news that the jockey that knew Maximum Security best, Luis Saez, had contracted the coronavirus and was restricted from traveling from New York.

Enter Abel Cedillo, a rising star on the Southern California circuit, but who had never known a spotlight as white hot as the one he was about to experience. Very little went according to script in the San Diego. Clearly the one to beat, his fellow riders race-rode Maximum Security and he was unable to make the running. Under a drive for the better part of the last four furlongs, he somehow managed to peg back Midcourt on the wire to score by a nose. Connections promised a fitter racehorse this time around and he delivered–to the max.

Kicked straight into the lead from gate five by Cedillo, Maximum Security took the Pacific Classic field under the line for the first time and although the opening fraction of :23.93 was hardly demanding, it was a contested pace, as Sharp Samurai was glued to his flank, with defending champ Higher Power (Medaglia d’Oro) prominent three wide. Midcourt was restrained off the pace this time around, with longshots Mirinaque (Arg) (Hurricane Cat) and Dark Vader (Take of Ekati) the back markers.

Maximum Security galloped them along at an even tempo–the half-mile was posted in :47.98–and was asked for a bit more speed passing the four-furlong pole after six panels in a very comfortable 1:12.37. Sharp Samurai kept up the pressure around the turn and at one point perhaps looked to be traveling slightly better than the chalk, but Maximum Security turned away his very pesky foe entering the final eighth of a mile and pulled clear, covering his final quarter-mile in a solid :24.74.

“The race went pretty much how I thought,” said Cedillo. “[Trainer] Bob [Baffert] told me to keep him off the rail, because the speed was inside. If someone wanted to run up inside of us, I would have let them. He just galloped around the track. I was a little surprised that the outside horse [Sharp Samurai] was with us early and he stuck around. He ran big, but whenever he would get close, my horse would pull away on his own. He still had a little left at the end. I have to say this is probably the best horse I’ve ever ridden.”

Pedigree Notes:

Maximum Security’s dam was acquired by Gary and Mary West for $80,000 in foal to Pioneerof the Nile at Keeneland November in 2014 and was sold to Korean interests for $11,000 carrying a full-sibling to the then unraced 2-year-old Maximum Security, who would make a victorious debut in a maiden $16,000 claimer about six weeks later. Lil Indy and her weanling Korean-bred full-sister to Maximum Security were acquired and returned to the U.S. and prepared for last year’s Keeneland November sale. Lil Indy fetched $1.85 million in foal to Quality Road, while the weanling was bought back on a bid of $190,000. Lil Indy, a half-sister to MGISW Flat Out (Flatter), produced a colt by Quality Road Apr. 23 and was bred back to Curlin.

Saturday, Del Mar
TVG PACIFIC CLASSIC S.-GI, $500,500, Del Mar, 8-22, 3yo/up,
1 1/4m, 2:01.24, ft.
1–MAXIMUM SECURITY, 124, c, 4, by New Year’s Day
                1st Dam: Lil Indy, by Anasheed
                2nd Dam: Cresta Lil, by Cresta Rider
                3rd Dam: Rugosa, by Double Jay
O-Gary & Mary West, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor &
Derrick Smith; B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc. (KY); T-Bob
Baffert; J-Abel Cedillo. $300,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 3yo Colt,
12-10-1-0, $12,191,900. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sharp Samurai, 124, g, 6, First Samurai–Secret Wish, by
Street Cry (Ire). ($85,000 Ylg ’15 KEESEP). O-Red Baron’s Barn
LLC, Rancho Temescal LLC & Mark Glatt; B-Cudney Stables
(KY); T-Mark Glatt. $100,000.
3–Midcourt, 124, g, 5, Midnight Lute–Mayo On the Side, by
French Deputy. ($450,000 Ylg ’16 KEESEP). O-C R K Stable LLC;
B-Dixiana Farms LLC (KY); T-John A. Shirreffs. $60,000.
Margins: 3, 2 3/4, NO. Odds: 0.40, 10.10, 7.40.
Also Ran: Higher Power, Mirinaque (Arg), Dark Vader.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

The post Maximum Effort appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

‘Max’ Back On Big Stage in Pacific Classic

The last time Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) traveled 10 furlongs, he crossed the wire first before the disqualification heard around the world in the GI Kentucky Derby. A ton has happened with the colt in the year-and-change since then: an Eclipse championship, a buy-in from Coolmore, a trip across the world to win the G1 Saudi Cup, doping allegations, a barn switch. Through it all, the horse who controversy seems to follow like a shadow will return to 1 1/4 miles and Grade I company with questions to answer in Saturday’s GI TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

Following his Derby demotion with a runner-up effort at 1-20 in last summer’s TVG.com Pegasus S. at Monmouth, the bay found redemption by annexing the GI TVG.com Haskell Invitational S. on the Jersey Shore. After being forced to miss several months with a minor injury, he scored victories in the GIII Bold Ruler H. and GI Cigar Mile H. to wrap up his divisional title.

Just nine days after he notched a hard-fought triumph in the inaugural Saudi Cup in his 4-year-old debut, Maximum Security’s trainer Jason Servis was indicted by federal prosecutors for alleged doping of horses including Maximum Security himself, prompting a move to the Bob Baffert barn. Making his much-anticipated return in the July 25 GII San Diego H., he ground out a nose victory at 2-5, the 10th time in 11 career races he crossed the wire first, earning a 101 Beyer, 10 points shy of his top effort.

C R K Stable’s Midcourt (Midnight Lute), who nearly dueled Maximum Security into defeat, returns to take another crack at the champion. Lightly raced at five years old, the gelding reeled off four straight victories last year culminating in a 5 3/4-length conquest of the GIII Native Diver S. at this oval in November and picked up another open-length graded tally in the GII San Pasqual S. two starts later Feb. 1 at Santa Anita. A narrow third in the GI Santa Anita H., his initial 10-furlong try, Mar. 7, he bounced back from a badly-beaten fifth in the GI Gold Cup S. June 6 in Arcadia to stretch Maximum Security all the way to the wire in the San Diego.

Hronis Racing’s Higher Power (Medaglia d’Oro), a surprise runaway winner of last year’s Pacific Classic, tries to recapture that top form. Going turf to dirt for a 5 1/2-length score in the Del Mar meet centerpiece, the bay failed to build on that run when a distant third in both the GI Awesome Again S. and GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic before finishing last as the favorite in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. Bouncing back a bit to be runner-up in the Gold Cup, he proved no match for the top pair in the San Diego, finishing 6 1/4 lengths back in third.

Sharp Samurai (First Samurai), a multiple graded stakes winner on turf, will make his first dirt start since running sixth in a Santa Anita optional claimer in March of 2017. He was last seen finishing a close runner-up in the GII Eddie Read S. on the local lawn July 26.

The post ‘Max’ Back On Big Stage in Pacific Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

TVG Pacific Classic: More On The Line For Maximum Security Than $500,000 Purse, Breeders’ Cup Berth

Maximum Security, a winner of nine of 11 starts and nearly $12-million in purses, a remarkably talented and unfortunately star-crossed colt, a runner who – despite his enviable record – is looking to reestablish himself as the big dog on the American racing scene, gets his chance to do just that at Del Mar near San Diego, Calif., on Saturday when he headlines the track's headliner on a five-stakes afternoon — the Grade 1, $500,000 TVG Pacific Classic.

The son of New Year's Day, bred by owners Gary and Mary West, who have added partners to his ownership group in the European trio of Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, will take on five rivals in the mile and a quarter for 3-year-old and up and he'll have Abel Cedillo in the boot for the run. Cedillo rode the bay to a hard-fought nose victory in the San Diego Handicapat Del Mar on July 25 in his first start in five months and first under the care of trainer Bob Baffert. The 4-year-old carried top weight of 127 pounds that day but, under the weight-for-age conditions of the “Classic,” he – and all the other runners – will go postward with 124 pounds Saturday.

The TVG Pacific Classic offers all the monetary and prestige advantages of a $500,000 Grade 1 race, but it also provides a notable plus in that it is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” race, meaning its winner gets a guaranteed entry into its designated race, one with all fees paid. In this case that race is the $7-million Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be run on Saturday, November 7, at Keeneland in Lexington, KY.

Here's the field for the 30th edition of the TVG Pacific Classic from the rail out with riders and morning line odds:

C R K Stable's Midcourt (Victor Espinoza, 7/2); Hronis Racing's Higher Power (Flavien Prat, 3-1); Parque Patricios Racing Stables' Mirinaque (Tiago Pereira, 10-1); Estate of Sharon Alesia and Burns Racing's Dark Vader (Umberto Rispoli, 12-1); Maximum Security (even), and Red Barons Barn and Rancho Temescal's Sharp Samurai (Juan Hernandez, 8-1).

The TVG Pacific Classic is Race 10 on Saturday's 11-race program, the premier offering of five Graded stakes on the card. It has a $300,000 winner's share.

Maximum Security finished first in the 2019 Kentucky Derby, but was disqualified and placed 17th in the world's most famous race. Then this year he again finished first, this time in the world's richest race — $20-million Saudi Cup — only to have his purse money put on hold because of issues with his previous trainer and allegations of the use of drugs on his horses. The horse surely does his share with the running; he could, however, use a bit of racing luck besides.

Higher Power won this TVG Pacific Classic last year and will be a stout threat to repeat on Saturday. The 5-year-old horse by Medaglia d'Oro shows a record of five firsts and a bankroll of more than $1.5 million to his credit.

Midcourt gave Maximum Security a ferocious tussle in the mile and one-sixteenth San Diego 'Cap last month. He's a multiple-stakes winner, including the Native Diver at Del Mar last fall.

Sharp Samurai is switching from grass to dirt to try his luck Saturday. The 6-year-old gelding by First Samurai has won eight races and more than $800,000, but only shows three dirt starts from 20 total outings.

Mirinaque is a South American by way of Argentina making his U.S. bow Saturday. He was a four-time winner in his native land, among them a pair of Group 1 races.

Dark Vader will be looking for his first stakes win in the TVG Pacific Classic. He's a 5-year-old horse by Tale of Ekatai.

First post for Saturday's big program is 2 p.m.

The post TVG Pacific Classic: More On The Line For Maximum Security Than $500,000 Purse, Breeders’ Cup Berth appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

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.

The post Maximum Security’s Return Doesn’t Answer Many Questions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post