Low-risk work pattern continues for Kentucky Derby's Maximum Security

Gary and Mary West’s Maximum Security breezed at Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach, Florida, on Monday morning the day before he is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs for the 2019 Kentucky Derby.

“He went a mile in 1:58 and came home, I want to say, in 25 (seconds) for the last quarter,” trainer Jason Servis said. “He galloped out a mile and an eighth in 2:12 and cooled out good. All systems are, ‘Go.’”

Maximum Security was assigned a clocking of :53.80 for a half-mile by the Palm Meadows clocker.

“They’re getting the last [half-mile] when the horse is breezing a slow mile,” Servis said. “That’s something that probably needs to be addressed at some point.”

Servis said he understands the need for half-mile workouts and breezes out of the starting gate for a young horse but is more comfortable with the longer open gallops as horses develop.

“I think it was after his second race that I took him off the rail so to speak and started doing the open miles,” Servis said. “It’s just a maintaining thing, trying to avoid injuries that would set us back. Maybe in a fast breeze there is more risk than what I’m doing.”

Maximum Security is undefeated in four career starts, including a front-running 3 ½-length victory in the March 30 Florida Derby (GI) at Gulfstream Park in his stakes debut.