Maximum Security Back in Action in San Diego Handicap

One week after initially being entered—a start delayed after a rash of COVID-19 positives among jockeys at Del Mar caused racing to be suspended there for a week—3-year-old champion Maximum Security returns in the $150,000 San Diego Handicap (G2) July 25 at the seaside track.

Facing five opponents, led by Higher Power, Combatant, and Midcourt, Maximum Security could take on an even smaller field by post time. One rival, Sharp Samurai, may alternatively race in the July 26 Eddie Read Stakes (G2T) at Del Mar on turf, the surface on which all of his stakes victories have come.

Maximum Security has not raced since the winter and makes his first start for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who began training him this spring after previous trainer Jason Servis was indicted on doping-related charges. That barn change followed a victory in the Feb. 29 Saudi Cup, the $20 million purse for which is on hold pending an investigation by The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia that was announced after the indictment.

Last year at 3, the son of New Year's Day won the Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park, the TVG.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park, the Bold Ruler Handicap (G3) at Belmont Park, and the Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) at Aqueduct Racetrack. He also crossed the wire first in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs before placed 17th by stewards due to interference.

Maximum Security is owned by his breeders, Gary and Mary West, along with Coolmore Stud-affiliated Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith. Coolmore purchased 50% of the colt in mid-December.

"I don't like the circumstances (of) the way I got the horse, but he couldn't be training any better and I really expect the big effort from him," Baffert said on a National Thoroughbred Racing Association media conference call.

Baffert has reason to be encouraged. The 4-year-old colt has seemingly adapted to his training style, which places more emphasis on speedier workouts than the slow, controlled breezes that were Servis' focus. Maximum Security breezed a bullet six-furlongs in 1:11 3/5 July 18, moving past workmate Leading Score, a twice stakes-placed horse, under aggressive hand urging. The workout can be viewed at Xbtv.com.

"I'm excited, a little bit nervous about it," Baffert said of Maximum Security's impending race. "I feel a little added pressure. But there's a lot of pressure when you're around good horses, and we always have that."

After being ridden by New York-based Luis Saez over his last seven races, Abel Cedillo has been named to ride in the San Diego.

"He's a strong rider; he's aggressive, and he won on Fighting Mad for Gary and Mary West," Baffert said, referring to the May 31 Santa Maria Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park. "He rode her and won the stake for me and he's won some races for me, and he seems like he can handle pressure when you ride a top horse like that."

Baffert originally made the change after Saez tested positive for COVID-19, which would have kept him away from riding last week, though since the change, numerous tracks, including Del Mar, have barred out-of-town jockeys from riding at their tracks as health measures designed to reduce the chance of COVID-19 infection. Saez is scheduled to return to riding July 24 at Saratoga Race Course after completing his required quarantine.

Cedillo was one of 15 riders at Del Mar to test positive for COVID-19, Daily Racing Form reported. The jockeys that contracted COVID-19, most of whom were asymptomatic, must complete a 10-day quarantine and be cleared before returning to riding this week at Del Mar.

Under the race's handicap weight assignments, Maximum Security carries 127 pounds, spotting his rivals between five to nine pounds.

He is one of three grade 1 winners in the 1 1/16-mile San Diego, a prep race for the $500,000 TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar Aug. 22. The other two are John Sadler trainees Combatant, winner of the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) this spring, and Higher Power, last year's Pacific Classic winner. Both horses are owned by Hronis Racing, though they are not coupled.

Higher Power, a 5-year-old Medaglia d'Oro  horse, was second to Improbable in the June 6 Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) last out, while Combatant, a 5-year-old Scat Daddy ridgling, was 10th in the May 2 Oaklawn Handicap (G2). 

Seeking to rebound from a poor performance in the Hollywood Gold Cup is C R K Stable's Midcourt. He is again equipped with blinkers after having them removed in his last race, and an outside draw may better suit the often slow-starting Midnight Lute  gelding.

Restricted stakes winner Ax Man, another Baffert trainee, completes the field.

Entries: San Diego H.

Del Mar, Saturday, July 25, 2020, Race 10

• STK
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $150,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 6:30 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Higher Power (KY)	Flavien Prat	122	John W. Sadler	-
2	Ax Man (KY)	Mike E. Smith	118	Bob Baffert	-
3	Sharp Samurai (KY)	Jorge I. Velez	119	Mark Glatt	-
4	Combatant (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	121	John W. Sadler	-
5	Maximum Security (KY)	Abel Cedillo	127	Bob Baffert	-
6	Midcourt (KY)	Victor Espinoza	122	John A. Shirreffs	-