Casse's Message to Maximum Security: See You at the Spa
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Trainer Mark Casse talks to the media June 4 at Belmont Park
If there's a rematch between Maximum Security, the homebred 3-year-old who was disqualified from first to 17th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner War of Will, it will not be happening in the TVG.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park.
Mark Casse, who trains Gary Barber's War of Will, said during a June 4 talk at Belmont Park that he had no interest in running his colt in the July 20 Haskell, regardless of how he fares in this next race, the June 8 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1).
Instead, Casse would prefer to have Gary and Mary West's Maximum Security come to Saratoga Race Course to face his son of War Front in the Aug. 24 Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1).
"We're not going to do that," Casse said about the Haskell. "You never say never, but it's highly unlikely. To me, the Haskell doesn't make sense. We're going to concentrate on the Travers. Maybe the Jim Dandy (G2, July 27 at Saratoga) and then the Travers."
Maximum Security and War of Will were at the epicenter of the incident in the Kentucky Derby that led to Maximum Security becoming the first horse in the 145-year history of the Run of the Roses to be disqualified from first for a racetrack foul. The two rivals bumped, causing a chain reaction that led to the stewards taking down the son of New Year's Day from the top spot and declaring Country House the winner.
Since then, War of Will, who was elevated from eighth to seventh, captured the Preakness, while Maximum Security is at Monmouth Park with trainer Jason Servis pointing for the Haskell, with the possibility of a prep June 16 in the TVG.com Pegasus Stakes at the New Jersey track.
"I'd rather be at Saratoga with this horse. I have the utmost respect for Maximum Security. I think if we're going to tackle him, let's tackle him in a neutral area," Casse said. "I also have the utmost respect for Mr. Servis and I'm not going to his home court to play. If we're going to play, we'll play somewhere else."
As an added incentive to bring together the horses involved in the Kentucky Derby disqualification, Gary West has offered to pay $5 million each to the owners of War of Will, Country House, Long Range Toddy, and Bodexpress if they finish in front of Maximum Security the next time the horses meet during 2019. The challenge also stipulates the owners of the other horses must put up at least $1.86 million, which West will donate to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.