Horse racing newsletter: Maximum Security by a nose

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter, as our TV critic Mike Tierney weighs in on Fox’s Saratoga coverage.

Maximum Security, the bad boy in horse racing, showed a lot of courage down the stretch and got the bob on Midcourt to win the San Diego Handicap by a nose. It was an odd race in that Maximum Security broke on top, looked as if he were losing ground on the backstretch, and then rallied for a gutsy performance in the stretch to run down Midcourt.

The question that everyone wondered was if Maximum Security’s past performances were in any way related to the federal indictment for alleged horse doping against his former trainer Jason Servis. He was moved to the barn of Bob Baffert, which in my book is a major upgrade. It also makes you wonder why, as a 2-year-old, owners Gary and Mary West placed Max in the care of Servis instead of Baffert if they had high hopes for him. Baffert is a regular trainer for the Wests.

Despite the gushing of the TVG anchors, I thought the performance was good but not dominating. Perhaps if Max had his regular jockey of Luis Saez, instead of Abel Cedillo (who is a terrific jockey), familiarity would have had Saez set up the race just a little bit different.

And, to remind everyone of one of those clauses that you know will be in the first paragraph of your obit: Max was the first horse to be disqualified on race day in the history of the Kentucky Derby.

So, where he goes from here is unknown, but here’s hoping he ends up in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the ultimate test. We’ll know how good he is at that point. More on Saturday’s race down below.

On to the good stuff.

Tierney’s take on TV

We’re back with another contribution from Mike Tierney, our newly anointed horse racing TV critic. Since about 99% of people experience racing through television, this is a must-cover area. Mike has done just about everything in the journalism business and at a high level. He was even a sports-on-TV critic at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Mike, let us have it.

“For horse-loving TV watchers, there is no more inviting venue than Saratoga. Spicing up the half-hour between calls to the post are delightful scenes of picnickers under shade trees poring through racing forms or containers of food, fans forming a friendly gantlet for jockeys exiting their room, ubiquitous hats and iconic red and white awnings.

“Except for 2020.

“With all but owners and track personnel denied entry, the mostly barren grounds at the Spa during this meet have posed a challenge for Fox Sports. Its on-air crew sings the praises of the place — ad nauseam on some days — without being able to show them.

“Blessedly, the races have been first-rate as usual, which makes the yawning gaps separating them somewhat tolerable. (Still, Fox should secure a deal with another track to insert additional races to fill the time.)

“Announcing teams are divided into pairs, each working for about half of the telecast. So, those of us unable to devote a full day to viewing can pick the segment with their preferable personalities.

“Give me analyst Jonathon Kinchen, electric hair, tattoos and colorful shirts all. His handicapping angles are intriguing, and his batting average on winners seems higher than his peers — TVG’s included. (But enough, JK, of reminding the audience that you have been aboard a horse once in your life. We know that.)

“Take (away) Laffit Pincay III. Please. Though knowledgeable, the son of the Hall of Fame rider speaks in a sing-songy voice as if we were reading scales. He often commits broadcasting’s cardinal sin of rudely interrupting or talking over his partners. Can’t somebody mute his mic?

“And what’s with his bizarre habit of repeating adjectives (“huge, huge effort. . . heavy, heavy favorite . . . aggressive, aggressive approach”)?

“Greg Wolf is a competent, if vanilla, host. Andy Serling is, well, another flavor — an acquired taste given his penchant for arguing, but a thorough researcher and informed race historian. Gary Stevens and Richard Migliore provide a welcome perspective as ex-jockeys — Tom Amoss, too, as an active trainer — though Mig would do well to retire his tiresome analogies with old prizefighters.

“The composed Acacia Courtney and the giddy Maggie Wolfendale exude expertise beyond their years. Here is hoping they, as many others in their field, eventually learn the art of the interview, which means asking actual questions instead of making declarative, rambling statements to their subjects and drawing insufficient responses.

“Courtney and Wolfendale alternately work the saddling area, sizing up the entrants by appearance and mood. Doesn’t do much for me, but some might find their observations interesting and helpful with handicapping.

“Memo to the producer/director: Limit the number of folks on-air simultaneously. With two at the desk, others stationed around the track and Stevens ensconced at his L.A. home, we are occasionally subjected to awkward moments of silence or multiple voices at once.

“Even with the shortcomings, props to Fox Sports for delivering almost every race of the Spa season. Next summer, may the visual images from the venerable track be more remindful of Grand Central station than a ghost town.”

Thanks, Mike. If you want to send him any thoughts, he can be reached at [email protected].

Del Mar review

Great day of racing. Let’s get right to the stakes results.

$65,000 Smiling Tiger Stakes: This minor stakes was early in the card — second race — for 3-year-olds going six furlongs. Ragtime Blues took the early lead, but by the half-mile marker Vertical Threat had poked his head in front, had a big lead going into the stretch and won by 5 ¼ lengths.

With only four horses, there was no show wagering. Vertical Threat paid $4.40 and $2.20. Ragtime Blues was second, followed by Thanks Mr. Eidson and Howbeit. Richard Baltas was the trainer and Heriberto Figueroa was in the saddle.

Grade 2 $150,000 San Clemente Stakes: In this race, 3-year-old fillies were asked to go a mile on the turf. Laura’s Light had a perfect trip, setting up second, taking the lead on the far turn and then winning by an uncontested three-quarters of a length.

Laura’s Light paid $4.40, $3.00 and $2.60. Guitty was second, and Warren’s Showtime finished third.

Here’s what the winning connections had to say.

Peter Miller (winning trainer): “They were flying early and I was a little worried being that close to the fast pace. But she’s all heart. She’s just special. Her last race (Honeymoon Stakes victory) was a mile and an eighth, which was stretching her. We’re certainly going to look at the Del Mar Oaks (1 1/8 miles, Aug. 22) but I think she’s better at a mile. But I think she ran every bit as well today as she did last time.”

Abel Cedillo (winning jockey) “Oh, boy; she was ready today. This filly, you can do what you want with her. She’ll go to the lead, she’ll let me take a hold. She’s just there. You love to ride horses like that. This was a tough race, some good horses in there. But my filly was ready and I felt [confident]. She ran a great race.”

Grade 2 $150,000 San Diego Handicap: In the big race of the day, this 1 1/16-mile race, in some ways, could be a precursor to the Breeders’ Cup Classic. You got some of the details up top, let’s get to the prices and some quotes.

Maximum Security paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10. Midcourt was second, followed by Higher Power, Ax Man and Combatant.

Here’s what the winning connections had to say.

Bob Baffert (winning trainer): “That was crazy. I knew I didn’t have him really drummed up for this race, we were going to use this to get ready for the next one. But we’re learning about the horse. He won [Saturday] when he had every reason to get beat. He showed what a great horse he is today. He’s such a fighter. I’m glad we got this over with and now he’s in good shape.”

Cedillo (winning jockey): “He broke really well and we were in front. Then that horse outside me (Midcourt) rushed up and I didn’t want to have to deal with him, so I just let him go. Then on the backstretch that other horse (Higher Power) came up inside me, but I felt OK. My horse was fine. When we turned for home, I had to get to work. I knew I was going to do that. He’s the kind of horse you have to ride all the way. You have to keep working on him. We got it done. I thought I’d won the photo, but you can never be sure about those things. But it came out right.”

Del Mar preview

Sunday is Day 3 of this four-day week with 11 races starting at 2 p.m. There are two stakes races, four allowance/optional claimers, and five of the races are on the turf. As Sunday cards go, it’s not too bad.

Let’s look at the two stakes races.

Grade 2 $200,000 Eddie Read Stakes: This is a 1 1/8-mile turf race for horses 3 and up. The favorite is the high-quality gelding United, running for trainer Richard Mandella and jockey Flavien Prat. He’s at 8-5 in the six-horse race. United almost won the Breeders’ Cup Turf but was won down by Bricks And Mortar. He coming off two Grade 2 wins and a second in the Hollywood Turf Cup. All of those races were longer, which shouldn’t make Sunday a problem.

The second favorite, at 4-1, is Bowies Hero for Phil D’Amato and Tiago Pereira. He is the defending champion in this race, having won three of eight lifetime at Del Mar. Prat used to ride this horse but went with United. Umberto Rispoli rode him last time but is on Originaire, one of his regular rides. Post will be around 5:30 p.m.

$125,000 California Dreamin’ Stakes: This one is for Cal-breds going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Camino Del Paraiso is the 5-2 favorite for O.J. Jauregui and Drayden Van Dyke. This 7-year-old is five of 37 lifetime with 12 seconds. His last win came in an allowance Jan. 4. Since then he has two seconds and two thirds in stakes races, three of them graded.

Galilean is the second favorite at 4-1 for John Sadler and Prat. He is coming off a four-length win in the Soi Phet at Los Alamitos. This 4-year-old has won four of nine lifetime. After easily handling Cal-bred competition to start his career, he was sent to the Rebel and Arkansas Derby last year where he finished third and fifth. Then he was off until Feb. 29 of this year.

Here are the field sizes, in order: 5, 8, 12, 10, 10, 10, 10, 6, 10 (1 also eligible), 11, 12 (2 also eligible).

Bob Ike’s DM pick of the day

EIGHTH RACE: No. 6 Neptune’s Storm (6-1)

Only six are likely to go postward in the Grade 2 Eddie Read, but there is value with front-running Neptune’s Storm. The Richard Baltas trainee comes off a win in the San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate and catches a field without any early speed. He should be clear early, can run this far, likes the Del Mar course and may have enough cushion to hold off the late runners to the wire.

Saturday’s result: Sassyserb ($6.00), bet down from 8-1 ML after four program scratches, got a typical perfect trip/ride from Flavien Prat and came away in the final 70 yards to win by a couple lengths.

Bob Ike is a Partner/VP of Horsebills.com (here’s a video) and the proprietor of BobIkePicks.com (full-card picks, 3 Best Plays and betting strategy).

Ciaran Thornton’s DM pick of the day

RACE TEN: No. 3 Brandothebartender (15-1)

Sticking with my Umberto Rispoli theme for the weekend we have Brandothebartender, who stumbled at the start last time before running third. This horse owns a 2-2-1 record from seven starts here at the beach. Rispoli rides again, and check out the 59-second workout last week; and as I’ve said before when the horses race protected after those works I put more weight in them. Odds of 15-1 on turf with Rispoli is too great a value to ignore. Brando has as much speed as the favorites and a great closing kick as well. Trainer Craig Dollase has two seconds from four starts at the meet thus far. His in-the-money percentages this year are mind blowing with an 83% ITM for non-graded stakes races, 47% on the year and 33% going dirt to turf. His best winning percentage is this category as well at 21%. A must-use horse in all exotics, but it’s the win we really want.

Saturday’s result: City Rage just never looked comfortable and had to be ridden early just to keep position finishing off the board.

Ciaran Thornton is the handicapper for Californiapick4.com, which offers daily full card picks, longshots of the day, best bets of the day.

Big races review

A look at graded stakes or races worth $100,000 or more Saturday.

Woodbine (3): Grade 3 $125,000 Marine Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles. Winner: Shirl’s Speight ($4.10)

Saratoga (3): Grade 2 $200,000 Ballston Spa Stakes, fillies and mares 4 and up, 1 1/16 miles. Winner: Starship Jubilee ($8.20)

Woodbine (6): $123,200 maiden special weight, 3 and up, 1 mile on turf. Winner: Pacenza ($18.70)

Woodbine (8): Grade 3 $125,000 Selene Stakes, fillies 3 years old, 1 1/16 miles. Winner: Two Sixty ($21.40)

Woodbine (9): $101,200 allowance, fillies and mares 3 and up, 7 furlongs on the turf. Winner: Afleet Katherine ($14.50)

Saratoga (10): Grade 1 $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Winner: Volatile ($2.80)

Del Mar (9): Grade 2 $150,000 San Clemente Stakes, fillies 3 years old, 1 mile on turf. Winner: Laura’s Light ($4.40)

Del Mar (10): Grade 2 $150,000 San Diego Handicap, 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles. Winner: Maximum Security ($2.80)

Big races preview

A look at graded stakes or races worth $100,000 or more on Sunday. All times PDT.

11:38 Woodbine (4): $123,200 maiden special weight, 3 and up, 1 mile on turf. Favorite: Pantom Dance (3-1)

12:50 Woodbine (6): $123,200 maiden special weight, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 mile on turf. Favorite: Let’s Go Now (3-1)

1:23 Woodbine (7): Grade 3 $125,000 Seagram Cup Stakes, 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Mr Ritz (2-1)

1:32 Monmouth (9): $100,000 Jersey Derby Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 mile on turf. Favorite: Irish Mias (5-2)

2:27 Woodbine (9): $108,700 allowance/optional claiming, fillies and mares 3 and up, 6½ furlongs. Favorite: O’Keeffe (3-1)

2:46 Saratoga (9): Grade 2 $150,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap, 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Favorite: Good Governance (9-5)

5:30 Del Mar (8): Grade 2 $200,000 Eddie Read Stakes, 3 and up, 1 1/8 miles on turf. Favorite: United (8-5)

6:30 Del Mar (10): $125,000 California Dreamin’ Stakes, Cal-breds 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Favorite: Camino Del Paraiso (5-2)

Chris Wade’s LA pick of the day

RACE SIX: No. 5 Chancer (5-1)

She upset an open cast of rivals 21 nights ago in her first start for these connections and earned a figure with everything — trouble and track variant — factored in that’s very competitive in this event. In her winning effort, she bobbled and drifted out at the start to lose ground and her early racing momentum, but fought back with a big run past the gap to garner the lead and held on nicely for the big priced win and with run left to give. A repeat effort could lead to a double-digit win return.

And now the stars of the show, Saturday’s results and Sunday’s entries.