Midnight Bisou Owners Claim Foul on Maximum Security

The owners of Midnight Bisou are calling for Maximum Security to be disqualified from his victory in the $20 million Saudi Cup, as well as all of his races, in light of the March 9 federal charges against trainer Jason Servis that allege he used illegal medications on Maximum Security and virtually all of his horses.

Midnight Bisou finished three-quarters of a length behind Maximum Security in the Feb. 29 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Saudi Arabia, which paid $10 million to the winner. A 5-year-old mare, Midnight Bisou received $3.5 million for her runner-up finish.

"At this time, we are following the news as is everyone throughout our industry," Jeff Bloom, the head of the Midnight Bisou ownership group that includes Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables, and Allen Racing, said in a statement. "We are of course deeply concerned and frustrated of the apparent cheating and blatant disregard for the equine athletes that has been pervasive for all the accused in the recent federal indictments.

"We could not be more proud of our mare and her accomplishments, in particular her breathtaking performance in the Saudi Cup where she handily beat 12 of the best horses in the world.

"One would expect that Maximum Security would be disqualified from all his races, including the Saudi Cup, due to the recent findings of the use of undetectable (performance-enhancing drugs) in his training and races.

"Regardless, we are excited to continue the campaign with Midnight Bisou and watch our incredibly talented mare race."

Officials with the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia declined comment when reached by BloodHorse on Wednesday afternoon.

Maximum Security was already at the center of the sport's most controversial disqualifications when he became the first winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) to be disqualified for a racetrack incident. He was dropped to 17th in last year's Run for the Roses for causing a chain reaction involving several horses.

Midnight Bisou is in quarantine at Arlington International Racecourse and is expected to be released March 13 and shipped to trainer Steve Asmussen's barn at Keeneland.

Bloom said he would discuss plans for Midnight Bisou's 2020 campaign with Asmussen once the mare arrives in Kentucky.

Also on Wednesday, owner Bob Donaldson said he was reeling from news of the indictment. Among his four-horse stable, Donaldson owns Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Spun to Run, who finished second to Maximum Security last out in the Dec. 7 Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

"I've been a little shocked," he said. "I'm just waiting for the (New York State) Gaming Commission to do the right thing, and if they don't, then I'll have to do what I have to do. I'm waiting for everybody to just sit back, do the right thing, clean this up, pull (Maximum Security) down (from his Cigar Mile win) and move forward. But if they don't do the right thing with this, I'm going to really reconsider whether I belong in this game.

"When it comes down to something like this it's really sad and it's not fair. It just shocks you to the core. Not that you didn't know something had to be happening, because the percentages don't lie. If you can't play on an even playing field if you're in this business, to me it's just so unsettling right now. There's highs and lows, but this is certainly a low.

"But when it gets better, it's going to get better for all. If you're in this thing and doing it right, nobody's got anything to hang their head about."

Spun to Run, who was scratched from the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1) due to a skin condition, is currently turned out in Kentucky.

"I'm giving him some time," Donaldson said of the Hard Spun  colt. "I had him at Patty Hogan's and she's done a phenomenal job with him. I thought, 'Let me send him down there and give him a break.' His coat looks like a million bucks right now. He's just grazing and getting his head down. He had a tough campaign."

Gary West, who owns Maximum Security along with his wife, Mary, and the Coolmore partnership of Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, said: "I decline comment until all the test results are final and then there will be a comment."