Gary and Mary West's Maximum Security (New Year's Day) put on the show everyone expected while taking on his elders for the first time in Belmont's GIII Bold Ruler H. Saturday, leading the way from start to finish to score in a swift final time of 1:20.76.
Away well from his rail draw, the 3-5 favorite took up his preferred position at the head of affairs, clocking an opening quarter in :22.90 with a host of pursuers breathing down his neck, led by True Timber (Mineshaft) and Diamond King (Quality Road). Prince Lucky (Corinthian) joined the fray and True Timber backed up a step as the half went up in :45.22. Turning for home, it was Maximum Security, Diamond King and Prince Lucky lined up across the track, but the chalk easily shook off his older foes in the lane, cruising home to a 1 3/4-length victory. Tale of Silence (Tale of the Cat) came on the scene late to be second and True Timber re-rallied for third.
“When he ran like that, I'm thinking that he's a really special horse,” said trainer Jason Servis. “The rail has been terrible all day. Nothing on the rail has been doing anything. Everything was coming around, enough so that Gary [West, owner] called me right away and I said, 'I see it'. We actually were thinking about taking him back, but I left it up to Luis [Saez] and he said, 'Boss, if he breaks, we'll go and get out and if he doesn't, I'll just sit on him.'”
As for what's next, the conditioner said, “I've got to talk to the Wests, but probably the [GI] Clark [at Churchill Downs] or [GI] Cigar Mile [Dec. 7 at Aqueduct]. I have a barn here so it's convenient. A mile and a mile and an eighth are both good for him. This horse can run.”
“He was feeling so good today and he was ready to run,” Saez said. “I was very comfortable. He put me there [on the lead] by himself and I was trying to slow the pace, but there was pressure. I'm on the horse to beat, so I knew it was going to happen, but he just kicked on. Everybody was right there [at the turn], but he came to the stretch and he did it all by himself.”
Dangled for $16,000 in his Gulfstream debut Dec. 20, Maximum Security romped by 9 3/4 lengths and made his next two starts in starter allowances sprinting in Hallandale, winning by 6 1/2 lengths Jan. 24 and a whopping 18 1/4 lengths Feb. 20. Jumped way up in class for his first two-turn test in the nine-panel GI Florida Derby Mar. 30, the bay led from gate-to-wire for another decisive triumph. The homebred was on the losing end of a controversial disqualification from first to 17th in the GI Kentucky Derby May 4 and was beaten to the wire for the first time when next seen in Monmouth Park's Pegasus S., where he finished second behind King For a Day (Uncle Mo) June 16.
Maximum Security returned to winning ways last time in his home track's GI Haskell Invitational S. July 20. He was being pointed for the GI Pennsylvania Derby last month, but was a late scratch after a bout of colic sent him to the clinic, which also forced him off the Breeders' Cup trail.
Pedigree Notes:
Maximum Security is the only Grade I winner for fellow West homebred New Year's Day, who now stands in Japan. The winner's dam, Lil Indy, a half-sister to three-time Grade I winner Flat Out (Flatter), was purchased by the Wests for $80,000 at the 2014 Keeneland January Sale in foal to Pioneerof the Nile. She returned to that auction for last year's November Sale, selling to a Korean entity for $11,000 carrying Maximum Security's full-sister. Lil Indy and her filly were purchased by SF Bloodstock and returned to the States the spring. where they will be offered in the upcoming Keeneland November Sale as Hip 13 and Hip 14, respectively. Lil Indy, who sells in foal to Quality Road, also has a yearling colt by Flashback, who remained in Korea. Click here for a TDN feature on Lil Indy.
Saturday, Belmont Park
BOLD RULER H.-GIII, $200,600, Belmont, 10-26, 3yo/up, 7f, 1:20.76, ft.
1–MAXIMUM SECURITY, 121, c, 3, by New Year's Day
1st Dam: Lil Indy, by Anasheed
2nd Dam: Cresta Lil, by Cresta Rider
3rd Dam: Rugosa, by Double Jay
O-Gary & Mary West; B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc. (KY);
T-Jason Servis; J-Luis Saez. $110,000. Lifetime Record: MGISW,
8-6-1-0, $1,389,400. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tale of Silence, 118, h, 5, Tale of the Cat–Silence Beauty
(Jpn), by Sunday Silence. O/B-Charles Fipke (KY); T-Barclay
Tagg. $40,000.
3–True Timber, 117, h, 5, Mineshaft–Queen's Wood, by Tiznow.
($170,000 Wlg '14 KEENOV). O-Calumet Farm; B-Mr. & Mrs.
Marc C. Ferrell (KY); T-Kiaran P. McLaughlin. $24,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 2HF, 3/4. Odds: 0.60, 23.30, 6.00.
Also Ran: Prince Lucky, Diamond King, Killybegs Captain. Scratched: Knicks Go, Wonderful Light. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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