No Catching Maximum Security in Pacific Classic

A bout of colic caused Maximum Security to fall behind in his preparation last year, forcing him to miss a start in the 2019 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

This year he seems on course for the $7 million championship-defining race. Racing Aug. 22 at Del Mar in the $500,500 TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), he illustrated that he remains one of the world's best horses with a three-length score over Sharp Samurai.

With the Pacific Classic part of the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" program, he earned an automatic paid berth into the Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

Relative to a troubled trip in last month's San Diego Handicap (G2), when two rivals tag-teamed him early and he was shuffled back leaving the first of two turns, Maximum Security's race in the Pacific Classic could not have gone much smoother. He effortlessly made the lead in the 1 1/4-mile race while under mild pressure from Sharp Samurai, strolling through splits of :23.93, :47.98, and 1:12.37.

He began flicking his ears forward as the field raced down the backstretch, indicative of him traveling comfortably, and when Sharp Samurai and Higher Power eventually began to turn up the heat, he responded. He left the second turn in command, extended his lead to 1 1/2 lengths in midstretch, and was pulling away at the finish.

He completed the distance in 2:01.24 under Abel Cedillo, the fastest time in the Pacific Classic since Collected  ran 2:00.70 in 2017. He paid $2.80 as the odds-on favorite.

"He just galloped around the track," Cedillo said. "I was a little surprised that (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. "

Midcourt, who set the pace in the San Diego before being caught by a nose by Maximum Security, ran evenly from a stalking position to grab third, 2 3/4 lengths behind the runner-up. He edged defending champion and fourth-place finisher Higher Power in a photo.

Mirinaque and Dark Vader were soundly beaten and rounded out the order of finish.

The six-horse field was the smallest in the race since Candy Ride  defeated three rivals in 2003.

Prior to a purse reduction this year due to the business climate amid COVID-19, the Pacific Classic had been worth $1 million or more since its inception in 1991.

The victory gave Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert a record-tying sixth Pacific Classic, matching the mark of the late Bobby Frankel. Baffert began training Maximum Security this spring after the colt's former trainer, Jason Servis, was indicted on doping-related charges in March.

The colt is 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.

"He’s a top horse. People need to know he is the real deal,” Baffert said. “It’s a shame what he’s gone through. It’s not his fault, but he is a great horse.”

Baffert last won the Pacific Classic with Collected , who later finished second to eventual Horse of the Year Gun Runner  in the 2017 Breeders' Cup Classic.

"I felt a lot of pressure because I didn't want to be the one to slow him down," the trainer said in an interview on TVG. "But I got a healthy horse from the Wests. He just galloped around out there. He's just built like a powerful horse, and he's light on his feet. I've always had a lot of respect for him because I've been chasing him. We were expecting something like this."

Maximum Security became the sixth champion in the past 10 years to win the Pacific Classic, following Accelerate  (2018), California Chrome  (2016), Beholder (2015), Shared Belief (2014), and Acclamation  (2011).

Disqualified from first and placed 17th for interference in last year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Maximum Security improved his record to 10 wins from 12 starts with earnings of more than $12 million. Now a four-time grade 1 winner in North America, his only on-track defeat —one not issued by the stewards—was a runner-up finish in last summer's TVG.com Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park after he stumbled at the start. 

"I've got tears in my eyes; I'm so happy," Gary West said of Saturday's race. "He looked so comfortable out there."

Bred in Kentucky, Maximum Security is one of three winners and the sole stakes winner from his dam, the Anasheed mare Lil Indy. She also has an unraced 2-year-old Flashback  colt named Stand Proud, a yearling filly by New Year's Day, and foaled a Quality Road  colt named Qualified this year. Taylor Made Sales Agency has consigned the yearling, foaled in the Republic of Korea, to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale as Hip 256.

The Wests and Baffert also raced New Year's Day, the winner of the 2013 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).