Maximum Security (foaled May 14, 2016) is a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 2019 Champion Three-Year-Old after winning the Florida Derby, Haskell Invitational, Bold Ruler Handicap, and Cigar Mile. Maximum Security crossed the finish line first in the 2019 Kentucky Derby, but was disqualified for interference.
As a four-year-old in 2020, he won the inaugural running of the Saudi Cup in January. In 2023 his trainer Jason Servis pled guilty to two charges related to the administration of performance-enhancing drugs to his stable and was sentenced to 48 months in prison. Maximum Security was administered a designer drug that was considered undetectable. He was transferred to the barn of Bob Baffert and returned to racing on July 25, when he won the San Diego Handicap, followed by a win in the Pacific Classic.
Background
Maximum Security is a bay colt who was bred in Kentucky by Gary and Mary West, for whom he races as a homebred. He was sired by New Year's Day, who won the 2014 Breeders' Cup Juvenile for the Wests. As a sire New Year's Day was considered a disappointment and was sold in late 2018 to a Brazilian syndicate for a reported $5 million: Maximum Security subsequently became his first graded stakes winner. Maximum Security's dam Lil Indy, by Anasheed, is a half-sister to multiple Grade I winner Flat Out.
Maximum Security was originally trained by Jason Servis, known for his high winning percentage. Servis credited his success to unconventional training methods with a focus on slow, regular gallops with brief bursts of speed at the end, compared to the faster but less frequent workouts by most other trainers. After Servis was indicted in March 2020 for doping related allegations, Maximum Security was moved to the barn of Bob Baffert.
Racing career
Maximum Security had "unspecified physical issues" as a two-year-old and did not make his first start until December 20, 2018 in a maiden claiming race. He won in commanding fashion by lengths. In that race, he could have been claimed for $16,000, but fortunately for the Wests was not.
Three-year-old season
Maximum Security began his three-year-old campaign by winning two starter optional claiming races at Gulfstream Park in early 2019, both of them over sprint distances, by a combined distance of lengths. He was then stepped up in both class and distance when entered in the Grade I Florida Derby at a distance of miles on March 30. Maximum Security went to the early lead and set a reasonable pace, trailed by longshot Bodexpress. He was never challenged and won by lengths, with favorites Hidden Scroll and Code of Honor well back. Maximum Security earned 100 points on the 2019 Road to the Kentucky Derby, instantly qualifying him for the Kentucky Derby.
Kentucky Derby
In the Kentucky Derby, Maximum Security set the pace of the race. Going around the far turn, Maximum Security swerved out from the rail while still on the lead, impeding the progress of several other horses. While Maximum Security regained his momentum and crossed the finish line first, he was disqualified to 17th place after 20 minutes of deliberation by the stewards. Second-place Country House, who went off at odds of 65–1, was awarded first. Maximum Security was the first horse to cross the finish line first in the Kentucky Derby only to be disqualified for an on-track infraction. The only other winner to be disqualified in the Kentucky Derby up until that point in time had been Dancer's Image, who was disqualified in 1968 for a drug infraction.
The disqualification was controversial, especially in the Derby which is often a roughly run race due to the large field. Jockey Luis Saez said the horse had shied away from the noise of the infield crowd, but was immediately brought under control. Maximum Security did not materially affect Country House, who was awarded the victory. However, his swerve did affect several other horses and could have caused a major accident if he had clipped heels with another horse. Saez was subsequently suspended for 15 days for "failure to control his mount".
On May 14, 2019, the owners of Maximum Security sued in U.S. District Court in Frankfort, Kentucky, seeking to reinstate the win and distribute purse money based on the actual order of finish. On June 8, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission filed a motion requesting dismissal of the lawsuit, stating that it "threatens to turn the 'most exciting two minutes in sports' into tedious, protracted litigation." In November 2019, the lawsuit was dismissed, citing "the stewards’ decision in determining fouls and disqualifications of horses is final and not subject to appeal".