Maximum Security the Latest Champion in Pacific Classic

The business environment from COVID-19 has cost the $500,000 TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) half its purse and, in turn, perhaps some depth, but not its star power.

The 1 1/4-mile dirt race Aug. 22 at Del Mar still attracted Maximum Security, the champion 3-year-old male of last year. Del Mar-loving Midcourt, defending champion Higher Power, and three others also are entered in the "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

The presence of a champion in the Pacific Classic is not out of the ordinary. In the past decade alone, Eclipse Award winners Accelerate , California Chrome , Beholder, Shared Belief, and Acclamation  not only raced in the Pacific Classic but won.

Maximum Security will be heavily favored to do the same, having just beaten his two principal adversaries, Midcourt and Higher Power, in the July 25 San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar, spotting them five pounds apiece. All starters will carry 124 pounds Saturday.

The San Diego was also his first race since he crossed the wire first in the Feb. 29 Saudi Cup.

Earnings for first prize in the Saudi Cup remain on hold pending an investigation by Saudi officials after the colt's previous trainer, Jason Servis, was indicted on doping-related charges in March.

Hall of Famer Bob Baffert now trains Maximum Security, a 4-year-old son of New Year's Day owned by his breeders, Gary and Mary West, along with Coolmore Stud-affiliated Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith. Coolmore purchased 50% of the colt in mid-December.

Though Maximum Security won the San Diego by merely a nose over Midcourt, Baffert was pleased. The colt had an eventful trip, facing aggressive riding tactics from jockeys on two opposing horses, but after going from first to third in the early stages of the race, ultimately rallied to win.

Video: San Diego H. (G2)

The San Diego "really woke him up," Baffert said. "He's been pretty sharp, feeling good, and doing well. I think he's coming into it really well. I like the way he gutted it out that first out. I got to know the horse better. His last few works were really strong."

The colt, disqualified from first for interference in last year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), seeks his first grade 1 victory of 2020 after winning three upper-tier races last year. He is well drawn, starting from post 5, outside the rail-breaking and sometimes slow-starting Midcourt, the other principal speed horse.

Abel Cedillo is back aboard Maximum Security after riding him in the San Diego.

Seeking to rebound from five consecutive defeats since winning this race last year is Hronis Racing's Higher Power. Although no match for Maximum Security and Midcourt when he was third, beaten 6 1/4 lengths, in the 1 1/16-mile San Diego, Higher Power has potential for improvement, said his trainer, John Sadler.

"I think this horse's best races are a mile and a quarter," he said. "We ran him the other day—I don't want to say as a prep—he was in such good shape I wanted to run him. But he seems like he gets a little bit outfooted, especially at a mile and sixteenth. I think the distance is going to close the gap."

Sadler said the San Diego was a difficult race to evaluate with the top finishers all running below their better speed figures.

"It is a fascinating race," he said of the Pacific Classic. "Is Maximum Security going to step out or stay the same? Is he vulnerable? It should be kind of interesting which Maximum Security we're going to get."

Flavien Prat, up for Higher Power's Pacific Classic victory and for the five starts that followed, returns in the irons. The jockey moved early on Higher Power leaving the first turn of the San Diego, a tactic that shuffled back an inside-racing Maximum Security. But Higher Power did not respond to urging to keep up beginning late on the backstretch.

The 5-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro  bids to become the fourth repeat winner of the Pacific Classic, a race inaugurated in 1991.  Tinners Way went back-to-back in 1994-95, Skimming did so in 2000-01, and Richard's Kid  repeated in 2009-10.

Sadler and Hronis Racing have won the past two Pacific Classics, also winning it in 2018 with Accelerate.

Baffert is a five-time Pacific Classic winner, including four since 2009. A sixth would tie the record set by the late Bobby Frankel.

The six-horse field is the smallest in the Pacific Classic since Candy Ride  defeated three rivals in 2003. It is completed by Dark Vader, a second-level allowance optional claiming winner July 25 at Del Mar; Sharp Samurai, a five-time stakes winner on turf with limited dirt experience; and Mirinaque, an import from Argentina who won a group 1 there in November.

A 4-year-old son of Hurricane Cat owned by Parque Patricios Racing Stables and trained by Maria Munoz, Mirinaque seeks to become the third horse bred in Argentina to win the Pacific Classic after Gentlemen in 1997 and Candy Ride.

The latter two had U.S. racing experience prior to their Pacific Classic victories.

Entries: TVG Pacific Classic S. (G1)

Del Mar, Saturday, August 22, 2020, Race 10

• Grade I
• 1 1/4m
• Dirt
• $500,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 6:36 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Midcourt (KY)	Victor Espinoza	124	John A. Shirreffs	7/2
2	2Higher Power (KY)	Flavien Prat	124	John W. Sadler	3/1
3	3Mirinaque (ARG)	Tiago Josue Pereira	124	Maria C. Munoz	10/1
4	4Dark Vader (OH)	UMBERTO RISPOLI	124	Peter Eurton	12/1
5	5Maximum Security (KY)	Abel Cedillo	124	Bob Baffert	1/1
6	6Sharp Samurai (KY)	Juan J. Hernandez	124	Mark Glatt	8/1