Maximum Security earns Baffert’s praise for gutsy win

DEL MAR, Calif. – As far back as prior to the 2019 Kentucky Derby, trainer Bob Baffert had expressed admiration for the fight he had seen in Maximum Security. Now that he’s training the colt, his appreciation for what Maximum Security brings to the track has only grown.

Baffert thought Maximum Security showed plenty of grit at Del Mar on Saturday in winning the San Diego Handicap, a race in which he got a Beyer Speed Figure of 101 after running 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.54. The strong fig emanating from a pedestrian raw time indicates how slow the track was playing.

“It’s hard to stop and get going again on a heavy track,” Baffert said Sunday morning. “The track was so demanding yesterday. He gave us a scare. He has so much heart. He’s got a lot of Ws by his name.”

The win was the ninth in 11 starts for Maximum Security, who famously lost a victory via disqualification in the Derby. Baffert said Maximum Security had come out of the race well and would be pointed to the Grade 1 Pacific Classic here Aug. 22, but left open the possibility of going to Saratoga for the Woodward on Sept. 5.

Luis Saez has been the regular rider for Maximum Security, but owing to travel policies at both Del Mar and Saratoga, Saez chose not to leave New York, and so Abel Cedillo subbed in the San Diego. Unless there is a relaxation of those policies before the Pacific Classic, Saez might not be available. And Sept. 5 is the date of this year’s Derby, so he might not be at Saratoga that day.

“I’d like to run him in the Pacific Classic,” Baffert said.

Midcourt, who dropped a nose decision to Maximum Security in the San Diego, was also in good order Sunday morning, according to trainer John Shirreffs, who said he’d like to see how Midcourt rebounds from the race before committing to the Pacific Classic.

“I was very proud of the way he performed,” Shirreffs said. “Sensational. Just got beat a bob. He was in front a jump before the finish, and a jump after. He ran awesome.”

Honor A. P. tops Shared Belief

Led by Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A. P., a field of six was entered on Sunday in the Shared Belief Stakes, which is part of Del Mar’s Saturday card, headed by the Bing Crosby, and is the last local prep for the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5.

Regular rider Mike Smith has the mount on Honor A. P. for trainer John Shirreffs.

Bob Baffert entered three horses in the 1 1/16-mile race – Cezanne, Thousand Words, and Uncle Chuck – but is not expected to run all three. Cezanne (Flavien Prat named to ride) and Thousand Words (Abel Cedillo) are the two who had been intended for this race in recent weeks. Entering all three is a way to keep options open for several more days in case anything unforeseen develops.

Uncle Chuck continued his impressive local training with a six-furlong work in 1:12.20 Sunday morning under exercise rider Juan Ochoa.

“I wanted a nice three-quarters, out seven-eighths,” Baffert said. “He’s getting more focused as we go along.”

If Uncle Chuck doesn’t go in the Shared Belief, he will head to Saratoga for the Aug. 8 Travers, which has been his intended next start. Drayden Van Dyke was named on Uncle Chuck for the Shared Belief. Luis Saez rode him to victory in the Los Alamitos Derby on July 4 and is expected to ride him in the Travers if he goes there.

Anneau d’Or was also entered in the Shared Belief by trainer Blaine Wright, and the longshot Kiss Today Goodbye by Eric Kruljac.

McKinzie entered in Crosby

McKinzie began his career going seven furlongs and never has run at a shorter distance, but he could cut back to six furlongs Saturday for Del Mar’s Grade 1 Bing Crosby, a race in which he was entered Sunday morning following a sharp drill hours earlier.

McKinzie was officially timed in 1:00.80 for five furlongs, his second local work since finishing fifth when losing two of his four shoes in the Met Mile at Belmont Park on July 4. After the work, trainer Bob Baffert said he’d put McKinzie in the Bing Crosby, giving him six days to evaluate the field and decide if he’d go.

“Enter and see what it looks like,” he said.

McKinzie is unbeaten going seven furlongs, including a debut win, the Grade 1 Malibu, and the Grade 2 Triple Bend.

The Crosby drew 10 runners, with the marquee names including Collusion Illusion, Fashionably Fast, Law Abidin Citizen, and Wildman Jack.

Baffert has four for Saratoga

In addition to Improbable in the Whitney this coming week and Uncle Chuck perhaps in the Travers the following week, trainer Bob Baffert has two others – Eight Rings and Gamine – readying for expected starts at Saratoga.

Eight Rings, in his final work for the Grade 1 Allen Jerkens on Saturday, blazed five furlongs in 59.20 seconds Sunday morning at Del Mar in company, with he and workmate McKale tying for the fastest time of 48 drills at the distance.

“He looks good. He got really light on me,” Baffert said of why Eight Rings had a freshening.

Although Eight Rings won the Grade 1 American Pharoah going 1 1/16 miles last year, one turn is likely his future.

“I think he’s best going a mile around one turn, or seveneighths,” Baffert said.

The Jerkens is at seven furlongs.

Gamine, the dazzling winner of the Acorn last time out, worked six furlongs in 1:12.60 in preparation for the Grade 1 Test on Aug. 8, the same day as the Travers. Gamine worked in company, starting about four lengths behind her workmate, and then roared past her partner in the stretch.

“She’s relaxing. Sat, sat, sat,” Baffert said.

BENOIT PHOTO Maximum Security earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure for his nose win in the San Diego.