Maximum Security Turns in First Work Since KY Derby

In his first official workout since being disqualified from victory in the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs, Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) winner Maximum Security breezed an easy half-mile May 22 at Monmouth Park.

Returning to a routine of slow breezes, which trainer Jason Servis used with Maximum Security ahead of the Derby, the son of New Year's Day completed four furlongs in :53 4/5. The move ranked 20th-fastest of 21 at the distance.

Slow breezes have been the norm for Maximum Security, who worked three times at Palm Meadows between his March 30 Florida Derby win and his Kentucky Derby run, where he was disqualified to 17th for interference in the far turn. Each of those three moves was the slowest at the distance that day.

Monmouth Park is familiar ground for Maximum Security, who worked there six times last summer and fall. Servis said Maximum Security had settled in nicely at the New Jersey track. 

"We haven't decided where he is going to run yet... but he's starting to come around," the trainer said.

Owner Gary West said May 19 the next major goal is the July 20 TVG.com Haskell Invitational (G1) at Monmouth. West said Maximum Security could prep for the Haskell with a start in the 1 1/16-mile TVG.com Pegasus Stakes June 16 at Monmouth.

"The Haskell is our next primary goal, but he may have a prep before then, possibly in the Pegasus," West said Sunday.

Another 3-year-old of note completed a workout Wednesday: Japan's Master Fencer, who is being pointed to the June 8 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) at Belmont Park off his sixth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.

In his second move since the Derby, the Katsumi Yoshizawa homebred went an easy half-mile in :52 at Keeneland. He is scheduled to fly to New York May 24.

With exercise rider Yosuke Kono aboard for trainer Koichi Tsunoda, the 3-year-old colt warmed up Wednesday morning by jogging about two laps on the training track before heading to the main track to breeze.

"(Kono) did a stop and go, so he can see how (Master Fencer would) respond for the (start of the race)," said representative Mitsuoki Numamoto. "He did that twice, and he responded well.

"The breeze, he did the Japanese way. We start really slowly for maybe two furlongs, but then have a strong finish."

Kono said he is satisfied with how Master Fencer has progressed during his time at Keeneland. 

"He's been getting better all the time," he told Numamoto. "He eats well, and he trains well."

Master Fencer is a member of the first crop by Japanese champion Just a Way, a grandson of Racing Hall of Famer and leading Japanese sire Sunday Silence. Yoshizawa purchased the colt's dam, Sexy Zamurai, by Deputy Minister, for $110,000 at Keeneland's 2005 September Yearling Sale. 

Also on Wednesday, trainer Todd Pletcher added Spinoff to the list of probable entrants for the Belmont Stakes after an 18th-place effort in the Kentucky Derby. 

The 3-year-old son of Hard Spun  didn't take to the sloppy track conditions in the Derby, according to Pletcher, who said the horse has been training forwardly since then. Spinoff recorded his first breeze since the Derby Sunday morning with a half-mile work in :48.72.

"He worked well and seems to be training forwardly," Pletcher said. "He didn't seem to care for the surface on Derby day. He put himself in a decent tracking position, but when it was time for him to turn his head, he just kind of spun the wheels a bit."

Pletcher-trained Intrepid Heart is targeting the Belmont as well.

Meanwhile, trainer Brendan Walsh said he is still weighing options for Plus Que Parfait, who will not run in the Belmont and has yet to breeze since his eighth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.

"I had to back off of him a little bit. We're looking for another spot for him, but nothing is decided yet," Walsh said.