Maximum Security Leads All The Way In Bold Ruler Comeback

Making his first start since a colic episode kept him out of the G1 Pennsylvania Derby, Gary and Mary West’s high-profile colt Maximum Security led gate-to-wire in the G3 Bold Ruler at Belmont Park. The 3-year-old son of New Year’s Day, ridden by Luis Saez for trainer Jason Servis, ran seven furlongs over the fast main track in a sharp 1:20.76.

Off as the 1-2 favorite in the field of six, Maximum Security crossed the wire 1 3/4 lengths ahead of 23-1 longshot Tale of Silence.

“He’s special. He really is a special horse,” said Servis. “He definitely wasn’t 100 percent [today]. Physically, he’s been great, but he had come out of the hospital and hadn’t run in three months.”

“He’s so special,” Saez echoed. “He’s the Derby winner and he’s born to run. Of course, he’s the best horse I’ve ever rode. He proved today he is a champion.”

Winner of the G1 Florida Derby earlier this year to earn his spot in the Run for the Roses, Maximum Security actually crossed the wire first in the Kentucky Derby. An historic disqualification led to the colt being placed 17th, however, and his connections sat out the rest of the Triple Crown.

This summer, when prepping for the Haskell at his home track of Monmouth Park, Maximum Security was defeated by the aptly-named King For A Day in the listed Pegasus Stakes. He rebounded to win the G1 Haskell by 1 1/4 lengths, however, and was being aimed at the Pennsylvania Derby.

Officially diagnosed as endosplenic entrapment, the colic episode did not require surgery but did send Maximum Security to the clinic. Instead of pushing him to make the Breeders’ Cup next weekend, Servis and the Wests decided to give Maximum Security an easier spot in the Bold Ruler.

Maximum Security broke sharply from the rail in the Bold Ruler, then held his half-length lead over True Timber and Diamond King down the backstretch while Prince Lucky was hung out four wide. He put away those challengers turning for home under slight urging from Saez, and held off a late challenge from Tale of Silence up the rail to win by 1 3/4 lengths.

True Timber just held third over Prince Lucky.

“When he ran like that, I’m thinking that he’s a really special horse,” said Sevis. “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.’”

Bred in Kentucky by his owners, Maximum Security is out of the Anasheed mare Lil Indy. His career record stands at six wins from eight starts, with earnings of over $1.3 million.

“I’ve got to talk to the Wests,” Servis said when asked where Maximum Security would run next. “Probably the Clark [at Churchill Downs] or Cigar Mile [Grade 1, $750,000 on December 7 at Aqueduct Racetrack]. 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.”