San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
RICH RACING
Maximum Security, DQ’D in Kentucky Derby, comes back to win $20 million Saudi Cup.
Maximum Security, coowned by Gary and Mary West of Rancho Santa Fe, may have been disqualified out of the most famous horse race, the Kentucky Derby, but on Saturday he won the richest race, the $20 million Saudi Cup.
The 4-year-old colt ran a strong race off the pace and held off the hard-charging 5year-old mare Midnight Bisou, owned in partnership by Oceanside’s Jeffrey Bloom, to win by a halflength in the first ever running of the race at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The top two horses are based in the United States. Benbatl, who has done most of his racing in England and Dubai, was third. Santa Anita-based Mucho Gusto, running for trainer Bob Baffert, after leading most of the race was edged out and finished fourth.
Maximum Security likely always will be remembered for the race he didn’t win when last year he was the first horse in the 146-year history of the Kentucky Derby to be disqualified on race day for interference.
On Saturday, Maximum Security, according to his connections, was the recipient of interference.
“The guy in front of me was carrying me out,” said winning jockey Luis Saez.
“But we pick inside and he fights.”
Winning trainer Jason Servis was not as kind in his assessment.
“(Mucho Gusto jockey) Irad (Ortiz, Jr.) had me all over the place,” Servis said. “They should bring him in … (in for review) for that. That was unacceptable, I thought.”
While Maximum Security was the best horse, the performance of Midnight Bisou might have been more impressive. At the back of the pack, jockey Mike Smith kept her on the rail and rallied and almost caught the winner in the 11⁄8-mile race.
Both horses will now have to consider if they want to stay for the Dubai World Cup on March 28.
Saez could barely contain his excitement and it wasn’t about a jockey’s $1 million share of the winner’s $10 million purse.
“This is amazing,” Saez said. “This is the boy. He comes here, he shows he’s the best. I can’t tell you how I feel. This is unbelievable. This is for Panama and USA.”
Baffert’s other horse, Mckinzie, was never in the race and finished 11th in the 14-horse field.
Ete Indien wins in Florida
The major prep at Gulfstream Park on Saturday was won by Ete Indien in the Grade II $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes for horses going 11⁄16 miles on the dirt. The 3-year-old colt took the lead out of the gate and stayed in front to win by a widening 81⁄2 lengths. The colt did go off as 3-1 so his win was not unexpected.
Patrick Biancone was the winning trainer with Florent Geroux in the saddle.
What was surprising was the run by odds-on favorite Dennis’ Moment, who was ridden by Santa Anita jockey Flavien Prat for trainer Dale Romans . He broke poorly, never made a run and finished last in the 10-horse field.
Ete Indien now has the points to make the Kentucky Derby field on May 2.