Baffert On Maximum Security: ‘I Only Had Him About 80 Percent”

Maximum Security was “good” Sunday morning, following an all-out effort for a nose victory at Del Mar in Saturday’s Grade 2, $150,000 San Diego Handicap, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert reported.

“I actually thought he was pretty good right after the race being that I only had him about 80 percent,” Baffert said. “I didn’t think he’d have to do a stop-and-go movement (during the race) but he showed what a great horse he is.”

Making his first start for Baffert, first in five months, and under new jockey Abel Cedillo, Maximum Security vied with Midcourt for the lead through the first quarter in :23.74, dropped back to third place, 2 ½ lengths behind Midcourt at the half-mile mark, rallied to draw even with an eighth of a mile to go and prevailed by a nose at the end of the 1 1/16-mile race.

“It’s a good starting point, we learned a lot about the horse, now we’re caught up and he’s ready to go,” Baffert said. Rather than “go,” however, Baffert’s inclination is to “stay” at Del Mar for the $500,000, Grade 1, 1 1/4-mile TVG Pacific Classic on August 22. Even though there figure to be pressures, subtle and unsubtle, to exercise other options. The Woodward Stakes at Saratoga is the same purse and distance as the Pacific Classic two weeks later on the calendar.

“The Pacific Classic or the Woodward, depending ….but I like the Pacific Classic,” Baffert said. “He brings his racetrack with him. He’s got a lot of will to win, he’s courageous and a smart horse. There’s just something about him, he’s got a lot of will to win. He’s got a lot of W’s by his name and there’s a reason for that.”

John Shirreffs, trainer of Midcourt, said his 5-year-old gelding showed no ill effects from a fully game try for a sixth victory in 12 starts.

“We are, of course, very proud of his race,” Shirreffs said via text. “It was a flip of a coin who would hit the wire with his head down.” There are no immediate plans regarding a next race.

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