News & Barn notes

Maximum Security Breezes At Monmouth Park; Next Start Still Uncertain

June 02, 2019

Trainer Jason Servis said he will make a decision on Maximum Security’s next start following one more work – which will likely take place sometime between Sunday, June 9, and Tuesday, June 11 – after the Florida Derby winner breezed at Monmouth Park on Sunday morning.

Maximum Security, disqualified from first after winning the Kentucky Derby, has the June 16 TVG.com Pegasus Stakes and the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational on July 20 on his radar. Both races are at Monmouth Park.

“He looked great,” said Servis. “He went a mile in 1:58 and galloped out a mile and an eighth in 2:10. He wasn’t blowing at all and he seemed to cool out good.

“I haven’t made a decision yet (on the horse’s next start). We’ll take it race by race, whether it’s the Pegasus or the Haskell. I probably won’t make a decision until his next breeze. We’ll probably send him out again in seven, eight or nine days.”

The Pegasus Stakes, a prep for the $1 million Haskell Invitational, is at a mile and a sixteenth. The Haskell Invitational is at a mile and an eighth.

“I’ve got time because the Pegasus is on June 16, so I can still breeze him eight or nine days from now and that leaves me five days before the Pegasus,” said Servis. “If I breeze him Tuesday (June 11) that’s five days before the Pegasus. If I breeze him Monday (June 10) it would give him six days before the Pegasus. I could do it on Sunday (June 9). That’s a full week.

“I have the luxury of any of those days and I’ll make a decision after he breezes.”