Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Maximum Security travels, works for Pennsylvania Derby
BENSALEM, Pa. – The gate to the Parx main track by the half-mile pole was still closed as Maximum Security, escorted by a pony, made his way down the horse path.
As a maintenance man went to slide the gate open, trainer Jason Servis instructed exercise rider Alvaro Tomas to take Maximum Security farther down the path.
“I just want to get my horse on the track,” Servis said in a tone belying his easy-going manner.
Servis fretted that the opening of the gate would potentially make a noise that could rattle his colt, who seemed a tiny bit keyed up on this cool, cloudy morning.
Once Maximum Security was on the track, though, both Servis and the horse chilled. A short while later, after Maximum Security got his training session in over the surface – which he had all to himself at 6:30 a.m. – Servis was even more at ease as he readies Maximum Security for the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby here on Sept. 21.
Officially, Maximum Security will be credited by Parx clocker Scott Bakos with a three-furlong workout in 40.55 seconds. What Maximum Security did was gallop a strong mile in 1:58.11 from the seven-furlong pole to the seven-furlong pole while going 40.55 seconds from the three-furlong pole to the wire.
“I could go [a half-mile in] 48 with this horse, but I’m keeping him nice and sound, and if you don’t think that’s enough for him, sorry, it is,” Servis said matter-of-factly.
Servis vanned Maximum Security from Monmouth Park to Parx early Friday morning because he wanted to see how the horse handled the track. Maximum Security left Monmouth around 4:30 a.m. and pulled into the Parx stable gate at 5:50 a.m.
He went to the barn of John Servis – Jason’s brother – where he took up residence in stall 15, two stalls away from Jaywalk, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2018. Maximum Security took a roll in the shavings of his stall and then walked a couple times around the shed row before Tomas climbed aboard.
“I wanted to get at least one breeze over the track – I’m going to get two unless something happens – and I thought everything went textbook,” Servis said. “The van ride, everything was good. My rider felt he got over the track terrific. He wasn’t blowing as much as I thought he would. That breeze should help him.”
Maximum Security stayed at Parx long enough to cool out. He didn’t drink much water as he was walked around the barn, but once in his stall he attacked his hay net. At 8:20 a.m., he was walked back onto the horse trailer on which he traveled and left Parx to return to Monmouth.
Maximum Security has been stabled at Monmouth Park since a few days after the May 4 Kentucky Derby, from which he was disqualified from first and placed 17th for interference near the top of the stretch. Maximum Security, who had won his starts prior to the Kentucky Derby, including the Grade 1 Florida Derby, finished second to King for a Day in the Pegasus on June 16, but came back to win the Grade 1 Haskell on July 20, a hot day when the races were pushed back several hours to run them under less oppressive conditions.
While Servis publicly said Maximum Security was pointing to the Travers at Saratoga on Aug. 24, he always felt it was unrealistic.
“In my heart, after the Haskell I said there’s no way I’m making the Travers,” Servis said. “It was unbelievably hot and he ran hard . . . . I could tell you he was probably thrilled I didn’t run him in the Travers. I know I was. I feel like I’m coming in with a fresh horse and a pretty fit horse.”
Servis said it took several weeks, coinciding with the cooler weather, for Maximum Security to regain a healthy coat.
“Maybe it’s a good time of year where he’s going to blossom for this race,” Servis said. “It’d be great.”
Servis said he plans to ship Maximum Security back to Parx for another training session on Sept. 15. Depending how things go, he could remain at Parx or ship back to Monmouth until race day.
“If he’s blowing like crazy, maybe I’d leave him a week to train over the track,” Servis said. “If he doesn’t take a deep breath, I’d just as soon have him in his round pen [at Monmouth] and get his grass.”
Servis hopes that Maximum Security runs well enough in the Pennsylvania Derby to warrant a trip to Santa Anita for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2.
“It’s definitely something we’d like to do,” Servis said. “Everything’s about the horse, but as long as he’s fine and 100 percent, definitely.”