Maximum Security (USA)
May 14, 2016 – Living
New Year’s Day (USA) x Lil Indy (USA), by Anasheed (USA)
Family 1-n
May 14, 2016 – Living
New Year’s Day (USA) x Lil Indy (USA), by Anasheed (USA)
Family 1-n
Clearly a talented racehorse on his own merits, Maximum Security was the hero of a compelling rags-to-riches story, rising from being a US$16,000 maiden claimer to the apparent winner of the Kentucky Derby (USA-G1). Unfortunately, that was where the fairy tale fell apart. After a nearly 23-minute review of the race films, the Churchill Downs stewards disqualified Maximum Security from the win for veering out into eventual eighth-place finisher War of Will, causing a chain reaction involving Bodexpress and Long Range Toddy. The stewards’ call led to litigation by Maximum Security’s owners, Gary and Mary West, but the case was dismissed in the courts on the grounds that existing Kentucky law regarding stewards’ decisions clearly gave the final authority on determining violations of racing rules to the stewards and did not permit appeal through the courts.
Maximum Security won two more Grade 1 races later in the year and won the Eclipse Award as the American champion 3-year-old male of 2019. The following year, he finished first in the inaugural Saudi Cup, the richest horse race on the planet, and won the TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (USA-G1), but his woes were not over. The colt took a hit to his racing reputation through no fault of his own after his trainer, Jason Servis, was brought up on federal charges in March 2020 following a multiyear investigation that indicated that he had been involved in a horse doping ring and that Maximum Security had in fact been administered illicit substances. Moved to the barn of Bob Baffert, Maximum Security continued to race well but was not as dominant as he had been and was retired following a fifth-place finish in the 2020 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1). The Saudi Arabian racing authorities conducted an investigation of their own regarding the possibility that Maximum Security had been under the influence of an illicit substance when he ran in the Saudi Cup, and after Servis was convicted of one felony and one misdemeanor count in July 2023, the handwriting was on the wall, though it took another year before Maximum Security was officially disqualified from his Saudi Cup win. The two disqualifications cost Maximum Security $11,860,000 in purse winnings and left his race record forever tarnished, probably more so than he deserves. Perhaps the fairest assessment of him is as a good racehorse who was denied the chance to prove himself truly great by human misdeeds.
Race record
14 starts, 9 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$2,431,900
2019:
2020:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (2019)
Assessments
Rated at 122 pounds in the Mile category on the 2019 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 6 pounts below co-highweights Crystal Ocean (a multiple highweight in Europe), Enable (the European Horse of the Year), and Waldgeist (the European co-highweight older male over 11 to 14 furlongs) but tied with Travers Stakes (USA-G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA-G1) winner Code of Honor (who earned his best ratings in the Intermediate category) for tops among 3-year-old males on dirt.
Rated at 122 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2020 Longines World’s Best Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, 8 pounds below overall highweight Ghaiyyath (the European Horse of the Year, who also earned his best rating in the Intermediate category, and 4 pounds below the top male on dirt, American Horse of the Year Authentic.
As an individual
A bay horse, Maximum Security has a well-sloped shoulder, short coupling, and powerful hindquarters but does not have the best of forelegs. He typically dictated the pace in his races but was game and determined when challenged.
As a stallion
Maximum Security entered stud in 2021 at Ashford Stud, Kentucky. His first foals are 2-year-olds of 2024.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Maximum Security was bred and owned by Gary and Mary West, who sold a half interest in the colt to Coolmore associates Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor in January 2020. Maximum Security was trained by Jason Servis until March 2020, when Servis was hit with charges related to a federal investigation regarding horse doping. The colt was then moved to the barn of Bob Baffert, who trained him for the rest of his racing career. Maximum Security entered stud in 2021 in Kentucky at Ashford Stud, Coolmore’s American facility
Pedigree notes
Sired by 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (USA-G1) winner New Year’s Day, Maximum Security is inbred 5x5x4 to the great international sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male. He is out of Lil Indy, whose sire Anasheed (by A.P. Indy out of European Group 1 winner Flagbird, by Nureyev) ran second in the 2002 Arlington-Washington Futurity (USA-G3).
A winning half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Flat Out (by Flatter) and to stakes winner Our Best Man (by Runaway Groom), Lil Indy is out of multiple juvenile stakes winner Cresta Lil. Sired by multiple French Group 2 winner Cresta Rider (by Northern Dancer), Cresta Lil is a half sister to listed stakes winner Worrisome Thing (by Cyane), dam of stakes winner General Strike (by One for All) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Miss Otis. Cresta Lil is also a half sister to Rose Above (by Hagley), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner J. T.’s Pet (by Magesterial) and Grade 2-placed multiple stakes winner Ongoing Mister (by Valdez) and second dam of 2002 La Brea Stakes (USA-G1) winner Got Koko.
Cresta Lil and her sisters are out of unraced Rugosa (by Double Jay), whose stakes-placed half sister Roses of Love (by Dancer’s Image) is the dam of stakes winner Roses for Shelly (by For the Moment). The next dam in Maximum Security’s tail-female line, the winning Sailor mare Rose, is out of the Rosemont mare Rosayya and is a full sister to multiple juvenile stakes winner Bosun. Rose is also a half sister to the claiming stakes winner Thorn (by Never Bend); to Ukala (by Swaps), dam of multiple stakes winner Kiss Me Darlin (by Go Go Man); and to Round the Rosie (by Cornish Prince), dam of Grade 3 winner Rose Bouquet (by Full Out) and French listed stakes winner Big Sink Hope (by Green Dancer) and second dam of 1993 Oaklawn Handicap (USA-G1) winner Jovial, French Group 2 winners America and Majorien, and Grade 3 winner Brave Note.
Books and media
Footage of Maximum Security’s Kentucky Derby run can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci_ychn7ga0.
Fun facts
Last updated: August 13, 2024
Maximum Security won two more Grade 1 races later in the year and won the Eclipse Award as the American champion 3-year-old male of 2019. The following year, he finished first in the inaugural Saudi Cup, the richest horse race on the planet, and won the TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (USA-G1), but his woes were not over. The colt took a hit to his racing reputation through no fault of his own after his trainer, Jason Servis, was brought up on federal charges in March 2020 following a multiyear investigation that indicated that he had been involved in a horse doping ring and that Maximum Security had in fact been administered illicit substances. Moved to the barn of Bob Baffert, Maximum Security continued to race well but was not as dominant as he had been and was retired following a fifth-place finish in the 2020 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1). The Saudi Arabian racing authorities conducted an investigation of their own regarding the possibility that Maximum Security had been under the influence of an illicit substance when he ran in the Saudi Cup, and after Servis was convicted of one felony and one misdemeanor count in July 2023, the handwriting was on the wall, though it took another year before Maximum Security was officially disqualified from his Saudi Cup win. The two disqualifications cost Maximum Security $11,860,000 in purse winnings and left his race record forever tarnished, probably more so than he deserves. Perhaps the fairest assessment of him is as a good racehorse who was denied the chance to prove himself truly great by human misdeeds.
Race record
14 starts, 9 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$2,431,900
2019:
- Won Xpressbet Florida Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won TVG.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Monmouth)
- Won Cigar Mile Handicap (USA-G1, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Bold Ruler Handicap (USA-G3, 7FD, Belmont)
- 2nd TVG.com Pegasus Stakes (USA-L, 8.5FD, Monmouth)
2020:
- Won TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Del Mar)
- Won San Diego Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Del Mar)
- 2nd Awesome Again Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (2019)
Assessments
Rated at 122 pounds in the Mile category on the 2019 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 6 pounts below co-highweights Crystal Ocean (a multiple highweight in Europe), Enable (the European Horse of the Year), and Waldgeist (the European co-highweight older male over 11 to 14 furlongs) but tied with Travers Stakes (USA-G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA-G1) winner Code of Honor (who earned his best ratings in the Intermediate category) for tops among 3-year-old males on dirt.
Rated at 122 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2020 Longines World’s Best Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, 8 pounds below overall highweight Ghaiyyath (the European Horse of the Year, who also earned his best rating in the Intermediate category, and 4 pounds below the top male on dirt, American Horse of the Year Authentic.
As an individual
A bay horse, Maximum Security has a well-sloped shoulder, short coupling, and powerful hindquarters but does not have the best of forelegs. He typically dictated the pace in his races but was game and determined when challenged.
As a stallion
Maximum Security entered stud in 2021 at Ashford Stud, Kentucky. His first foals are 2-year-olds of 2024.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Maximum Security was bred and owned by Gary and Mary West, who sold a half interest in the colt to Coolmore associates Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor in January 2020. Maximum Security was trained by Jason Servis until March 2020, when Servis was hit with charges related to a federal investigation regarding horse doping. The colt was then moved to the barn of Bob Baffert, who trained him for the rest of his racing career. Maximum Security entered stud in 2021 in Kentucky at Ashford Stud, Coolmore’s American facility
Pedigree notes
Sired by 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (USA-G1) winner New Year’s Day, Maximum Security is inbred 5x5x4 to the great international sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male. He is out of Lil Indy, whose sire Anasheed (by A.P. Indy out of European Group 1 winner Flagbird, by Nureyev) ran second in the 2002 Arlington-Washington Futurity (USA-G3).
A winning half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Flat Out (by Flatter) and to stakes winner Our Best Man (by Runaway Groom), Lil Indy is out of multiple juvenile stakes winner Cresta Lil. Sired by multiple French Group 2 winner Cresta Rider (by Northern Dancer), Cresta Lil is a half sister to listed stakes winner Worrisome Thing (by Cyane), dam of stakes winner General Strike (by One for All) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Miss Otis. Cresta Lil is also a half sister to Rose Above (by Hagley), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner J. T.’s Pet (by Magesterial) and Grade 2-placed multiple stakes winner Ongoing Mister (by Valdez) and second dam of 2002 La Brea Stakes (USA-G1) winner Got Koko.
Cresta Lil and her sisters are out of unraced Rugosa (by Double Jay), whose stakes-placed half sister Roses of Love (by Dancer’s Image) is the dam of stakes winner Roses for Shelly (by For the Moment). The next dam in Maximum Security’s tail-female line, the winning Sailor mare Rose, is out of the Rosemont mare Rosayya and is a full sister to multiple juvenile stakes winner Bosun. Rose is also a half sister to the claiming stakes winner Thorn (by Never Bend); to Ukala (by Swaps), dam of multiple stakes winner Kiss Me Darlin (by Go Go Man); and to Round the Rosie (by Cornish Prince), dam of Grade 3 winner Rose Bouquet (by Full Out) and French listed stakes winner Big Sink Hope (by Green Dancer) and second dam of 1993 Oaklawn Handicap (USA-G1) winner Jovial, French Group 2 winners America and Majorien, and Grade 3 winner Brave Note.
Books and media
Footage of Maximum Security’s Kentucky Derby run can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci_ychn7ga0.
Fun facts
- Because he had not shown anything exceptional in training and was crooked in front, Maximum Security made his first start in a US$16,000 maiden claiming race at Gulfstream Park on December 20, 2018. He won by 9¾ lengths. Amazingly, he was not the only Grade 1 winner to emerge from the race as the third-place horse was Math Wizard, later the winner of the 2019 Pennsylvania Derby.
- Maximum Security’s disqualification in the Kentucky Derby was only the second disqualification of a winner in the race’s history and the first one for interference during the running of the race. The previous disqualification was of Dancer’s Image, who was displaced as the 1968 Kentucky Derby winner after testing positive for phenylbutazone, a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory then illicit for race-day use in Kentucky.
- A wiretapped phone call from Jason Servis to one of his co-defendants indicated that Maximum Security had been injected with a compounded drug known as SFG-1000 (used to stimulate tissue repair and enhance performance) and had also been administered clenbuterol, an illegal bronchodilator. Although post-race urine samples did not reveal either substance in Maximum Security’s system following the Saudi Cup, the Saudi officials disqualified Maximum Security due to evidence that his veterinary records had been falsified to show administration of a drug (dexamethasone) for which SFG-1000 could supposedly cause a false positive. (At that time, no specific test existed for SFG-1000; ironically, it was learned later that SFG-1000 would not cause a false positive for dexamethasone.) Owners Gary and Mary West and Coolmore were cleared from any involvement in the doping as other wiretapped phone calls revealed that Gary West had given explicit instructions to Servis not to use any medications on their colt that might cause an accidental overage and was almost certainly unaware of the illicit doping.
- Following Servis’s indictment, the possibility was raised that Maximum Security could be stripped of his Eclipse Award, which he won with 217 votes against 16 for Omaha Beach (a three-time Grade 1 winner) and 8 for Code of Honor. To date, no such action has been taken, in part because the Eclipse Awards do not have a mechanism in place that would permit revocation of an award due to cheating, falsification of records, or other irregularities. Two Eclipse Awards have been returned by their recipients under such circumstances, one by a jockey and one in the media category.
Last updated: August 13, 2024