Maximum Security won the inaugural running of the $20 million Saudi Cup in his last start for trainer Jason Servis. (Photo credit: Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia/Doug DeFelice).
Maximum Security is settling into his new job as stallion, with a marketing plan from Coolmore that is raising a few eyebrows.
Maximum Security won 10 of his 14 career starts and was disqualified from the Kentucky Derby (G1) in 2019 for interference. The first eight of his wins came while under the care of Jason Servis, who was indicted in a doping scheme along with fellow trainer Jorge Navarro and 25 others in March and is awaiting trial.
Coolmore purchased a half interest in Maximum Security in January and he will stand at stud for $20,000 in 2021.
In a display ad that was placed in the Thoroughbred Daily News, Coolmore claims the colt “is a bona fide CHAMPION that raced on water, hay, oats & fresh air!”
I don’t think even Mattress Mack could come up with spin this good. (This article is NOT sponsored by Runhappy).
The ad also said the colt “NEVER TESTED POSITIVE for an illegal or prohibited substance during his career despite comprehensive testing at the world’s best laboratories.”
The ad included a snippet from a TDN article in November that said, “On Tuesday United States Attorney revealed that prosecutors now believe that at least two of the alleged conspirators-Chan and Rhein-were pushing some fake PED’s to Servis that didn’t really enhance performance….The prosecutor then elaborate” “That is, a drug that is promoted and intended to be a performance-enhancer but is, you know a dud.”
There is so much to unpack here, but first let’s take a look back at Trump’s take on Maximum Security’s disqualification in the Kentucky Derby just for kicks:
The Kentucky Derby decision was not a good one. It was a rough & tumble race on a wet and sloppy track, actually, a beautiful thing to watch. Only in these days of political correctness could such an overturn occur. The best horse did NOT win the Kentucky Derby – not even close!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 5, 2019
If you asked any everyday horseplayer back in 2019 who was not playing by the rules, Servis would have been on the top of the list along with his buddy Navarro.
Servis has won at a better than 20% clip every year from 2005 to 2020 including winning at a 32% clip in 2018 and a 29% rate in 2017 and 2019.
His remarkable work with claimers was often “magical.”
From $16,000 Claimer to Multi Millionaire
He took Maximum Security from earning an 81 Beyer Speed Figure breaking his maiden for a $16,000 claiming tag to winning the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) three months later to winning the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) in February of this year.
It seems plausible the colt could have done all that with just water, hay, oats and fresh air, right?
I mean Lance Armstrong went from relatedly unknown cyclist to a seven-time Tour de France winner without ever testing positive for illegal substances.
Barry Bonds hit quite a few homeruns before testing positive for steroids in his 15th year in the majors.
Max Lands with Teflon Bob
Now, some will make the argument that since Max has landed with Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, his form has stayed relatively the same. In his final four starts for Baffert his average Beyer was 103, the same average as his last seven starts with Servis.
Of course, Baffert has had his own issues with failed drug tests the past few years. Does Justify, Charlatan, Hoppertunity, Gamine and um… Gamine ring a bell?
Baffert was not named in the indictment in March. His positives seem to be cases of contamination. His grooms apparently need to start wearing PPE and N95 masks.
Look, I suppose it is possible Maximum Security raced cleanly throughout his career and Servis allegedly just doped his slower horses.
It’s also possible to hit the Jackpot Pick 6 with one .20 cent ticket.
Ad from the TDN
