Max Security stumbles
Misstep costly at Monmouth
The Triple Crown series was marked by the unexpected and the wacky 3-year-old season continued when Maximum Security returned to racing for the first time since being disqualified in the Kentucky Derby.
Sent off as the overwhelming 1-20 favorite, Maximum Security simply got beat. There was no DQ, no runaway horse like in the Preakness or improbable winner like in the Belmont.
It was just an upset marked by a stumble at the start that might have cost Maximum Security the race and left the division wide open.
Second-choice King for a Day stalked Maximum Security from the start, took the lead in the stretch and posted a onelength victory in the $150,000 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday.
“I think the next race will be better,” said Jason Servis, the trainer of Maximum Security “We needed to get that out of the way. I was glad to get it out of the way even though he got beat.”
It marked the first time Maximum Security has not crossed the finish line first in six career starts, and the stumble might have been the difference.
“It was a tough week,” said Servis, who had debated whether to run Maximum Security because he was not sure he was ready. “He was feeling pretty good this morning. He was jumping and kicking. But the stumble hurt us a lot.”
Maximum Security and regular rider Luis Saez broke from the No. 2 post and quickly recovered from the stumble to take the lead in the field of six 3-year-olds.
Jockey Joe Bravo moved King for a Day from the No. 3 post to his flank and the two made this a two-horse race until the Todd Pletcher-trained winner wore down Maximum Security in the stretch.
HENDERSON TAKES LPGA CLASSIC
Brooke Henderson won the Meijer LPGA Classic on Sunday to break the Canadian record for tour victories with nine.
The 21-year-old Henderson led wire-to-wire for her second victory in three years at Blythefield Country Club in Michigan, closing with a 2-under 70 in chilly conditions to hold off Lexi Thompson, Nasa Hataoka, Su Oh and Brittany Altomare by a stroke.
Henderson broke a tie with Sandra Post for the Canadian record on the LPGA Tour and also moved ahead of George Knudson and Mike Weir for the overall country mark.