Saudi Cup official: Maximum Security money in 'hold position'
Hours before 14 horses lined up Saturday to contest the 2021 Saudi Cup, a race official spoke about why the winner’s share of the 2020 Saudi Cup still has not been paid out.
Prince Bandar bin Khalid, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, was interviewed Saturday by Nick Luck and Michelle Yu during the international broadcast of the event’s undercard. Luck asked Prince Bandar about the status of the $10 million prize Maximum Security earned last February with his score in the inaugural Saudi Cup.
Prince Bandar said that Saudi officials are “sort of in a hold position now,” waiting on resolution of the case involving Maximum Security’s former trainer, Jason Servis. Federal officials indicted Servis and 26 other individuals, including fellow trainer Jorge Navarro, last March on doping charges.
“We understand in the coming six weeks there will be some kind of movement on (Servis’ case) which will allow us to move forward on it and bring this to a close,” Prince Bandar said. “I feel we don’t have long to wait for it. …
“But we have to abide by the international rules and regulations. Someone will get the prize money. We paid out all of the other positions. I feel within the next six weeks, hopefully, we’ll put this issue to a close.”
Servis’ indictment occurred less than two weeks after Maximum Security beat Midnight Bisou by three-quarters of a length at King Abdulaziz Racetrack. Saudi officials announced in August that they would award prize money to horses that finished second to 10th in the 2020 Saudi Cup, but withhold Maximum Security’s prize money pending an investigation.
Breeders/owners Gary and Mary West campaigned Maximum Security in the Saudi Cup alongside Coolmore partners. Horse Racing Nation left a voicemail with Gary West seeking reaction to Prince Bandar's comments.
The “hold position” of Maximum Security’s prize money is just another chapter in a roller-coaster career for the talented son of New Year’s Day.
Maximum Security rose from claiming ranks to the 2019 Kentucky Derby trail, only to be disqualified from a Derby victory due to a stewards’ ruling of interference. After surviving a colic scare, he returned to win the 2019 Cigar Mile (G1) and 2020 Saudi Cup for Servis.
Following Servis’ indictment, the Wests moved him to trainer Bob Baffert’s care. He won Del Mar’s Pacific Classic (G1) for his new barn, then was retired after finishing his career with a fifth-place run last November at Keeneland in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
For his career, Maximum Security posted a 14: 10-2-0 record. The Breeders’ Cup Classic marked the only race where he ever actually crossed the wire outside of first or second.
“I thought he got a raw deal in the Kentucky Derby,” Prince Bandar said. “It was fair. But he was the best horse on the day. Here, he was the best horse on the day. He’s a victim of circumstances that are nothing to do with the horse himself.”