San Diego Handicap 2020 guide: Odds, PPs and analysis

Different trainer, different racing circuit, different jockey. Same Max? We’ll find out Saturday.

Even-money favorite Maximum Security will start for the first time in nearly five months when he and five others contest the Grade 2, $150,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.

Last time the racing world saw Maximum Security, jockey Luis Saez booted him home to a dramatic win Feb. 29 in the $20 million Saudi Cup.

Less than two weeks later, trainer Jason Servis was under federal indictment on doping charges. Maximum Security’s owners quickly moved the 4-year-old to Bob Baffert’s barn.

Baffert has worked Maximum Security consistently the last two months at Santa Anita and Del Mar preparing for his return to the races. That return comes Saturday against a field that includes fellow Grade 1 winners Combatant (6-1) and Higher Power (7-2), plus Midcourt (4-1), Ax Man (8-1) and Sharp Samurai (12-1).

In addition to a first race for Baffert, the San Diego Handicap will mark Maximum Security’s California debut. The reigning Eclipse Award Champion 3-year-old will also race for the first time under Abel Cedillo, who gets the mount while regular jockey Saez stays at Saratoga due to COVID-19 regulations.

Here’s a look at the field for the San Diego Handicap, which serves as a local prep for Del Mar’s $500,000 Pacific Classic (G1) on Aug. 22:

2020 San Diego Handicap (G2)

It’s no surprise that TimeformUS’ pace projection sees Maximum Security going right to the front in the 1 1/16-mile San Diego Handicap. The New Year’s Day colt wired Grade 1 fields last year in the Florida Derby, Kentucky Derby, and Cigar Mile – though of course he was the official winner in only two of those races.

Will anyone pressure Maximum Security and make him work early? Projections show Baffert stablemate Ax Man as the runner most likely to challenge him for the lead.

Television coverage

TVG will carry full coverage of Saturday’s Del Mar card, with the San Diego Handicap scheduled for a 9:30 p.m. EDT post time. Advanced deposit wagering services such as NYRABets also live stream track feeds for account holders.

San Diego Handicap analysis

For insight in how to play the San Diego Handicap, check out free PPs from our friends at Brisnet.

On this week’s Horse Center, Matt Shifman and Brian Zipse talk about Maximum Security’s return and preview other exciting stakes action.

Reinier Macatangay thinks that Midcourt, who is 2-for-2 lifetime at Del Mar, has what it takes to upset Maximum Security.

Del Mar Communications looks at both trainer John Sadler’s three-year San Diego Handicap winning streak and the pressure on Maximum Security entering his debut for Baffert.

Chip Gehrke ranks Maximum Security at No. 1 in the Older Dirt Males division, with Higher Power outside the top five. Will this race shake up the rankings?

Other stakes to watch

Champion Sistercharlie will kick off her 2020 campaign in the 32nd running of Saturday's $200,000 Ballston Spa (G2) for older fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles over the Mellon turf at Saratoga Race Course.

Six-time graded stakes-winner Whitmore will return to historic Saratoga Race Course for the first time since winning the 2018 Forego (G1) when the veteran son of Pleasantly Perfect looks to notch his third consecutive victory in the $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1) on Saturday.

One race before the San Diego Handicap, Del Mar hosts the $150,000 San Clemente Stakes (G2) for 3-year-old fillies going a turf mile. Laura's Light, Cheermeister and Warren's Showtime lead what Reinier Macatangay calls “a tough race to decipher.”

San Diego Handicap preview

From Del Mar Communications:

Maximum Security, the marvelously talented but seemingly star-crossed colt makes his return to the racing scene Saturday at Del Mar as he heads a field of six older horses in the 79th running of the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap.

Gary and Mary West’s homebred 4-year-old by New Year’s Day, whom they own in partnership with Magnier, Tabor and Smith, as well as the major Irish breeding entity Coolmore, will race in the Coolmore silks in the $150,000 San Diego, a key prep for the shore oval’s signature race – the $500,000 Pacific Classic (G1) scheduled for Saturday, August 22.

Maximum Security became the only horse ever disqualified from victory in the Kentucky Derby in 2019, then lost his trainer in March to alleged drugging issues after a triumph in the $20 million Saudi Cup. Nonetheless, the bay looms a stout favorite Saturday despite a) making his first start in five months; b) working under a new trainer (Bob Baffert); c) getting a new rider (Abel Cedillo), and d) making his first appearance on the West Coast.

His impressive ledger currently reads 10 starts, eight wins and $11,801,900 in earnings. Not surprisingly, he’ll pack top weight of 127 pounds in the 1 1/16-mile San Diego, spotting his five rivals from five to nine pounds. He’s been made the even-money favorite for the race, which goes as the 10th event on an 11-race card that also features the San Clement Stakes and the Smiling Tiger Stakes.

Here’s the lineup for the San Diego from the rail out with riders, weights and morning line odds:

Hronis Racing’s Higher Power (Flavien Prat, 122 pounds, 7/2); Patti and Hal Earnhardt’s Ax Man (Mike Smith, 118, 8-1); Red Barons Barn and Rancho Temescal’s Sharp Samurai (Jorge Velez, 119, 12-1); Hronis Racing’s Combatant (Drayden Van Dyke, 121, 6-1); Maximum Security, and C R K Stable’s Midcourt (Victor Espinoza, 122, 4-1).

While Maximum Security’s credentials make him the horse to beat in the San Diego, it is noted that the flashy speedster did not draw a field of patty cakes for his comeback.

Two of his rivals – Higher Power and Combatant, both trained by John Sadler – are millionaires and Midcourt, who runs out of the John Shirreffs barn, is a multiple stakes winner with more than $400,000 in the bank.

Higher Power captured last year’s renewal of the Pacific Classic, and no doubt is on a course to try for a repeat. The 5-year-old bay horse by Medaglia d’Oro was last out in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1) on June 6 where he finished second to Improbable going nine furlongs. His bankroll reads $1,486,648.

Stablemate Combatant rang the bell in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) in March for the biggest victory of his career. He’s a 5-year-old ridgling by the late Scat Daddy who’ll be making the 26th start of his career. He has earnings of $1,033,998.

Midcourt was eased after a rocky start in his latest effort, the Gold Cup at Santa Anita, but has come back to work well since. The 5-year-old gelding by Midnight Lute has finished in the top three in eight of his 11 starts, including five wins.

First post Saturday – just as it is on all days at the summer meet – is 2 p.m. PDT.