Maximum Security 2019 Kentucky Derby Contender Profile

If Maximum Security wins the Kentucky Derby (G1) on the first Saturday of May, there may be some sleepless nights for trainers based at Gulfstream Park. 

With a modest pedigree and works on the morning tab, his trainer Jason Servis elected to debut the colt for a $16,000 claiming tag. That means any trainer could have filled out a claim slip, written a check for the colt and purchased him after the race. 

The colt rolled to a 9 ¾-length win, there were no takers and he remained in the Servis barn. He beat $50,000 starter optional claimers in his next start, but still did not run fast enough to be considered a stakes horse. 

However, he won again in another starter optional claimer on February 20 at Gulfstream Park and his Beyer Speed Figure went from an 83 to a 101, a number good enough to compete with the best of his generation. 

The colt got the class test when he started in the Florida Derby (G1) and he was well backed, sent off at 9-2 in a field of 11.

Under new jockey Luis Saez, the colt was able to jump out to the lead and set moderate early fractions and took the field gate to wire, showing that 102 Beyer was not a fluke, producing a figure of 101. 

His early wagering price at Sportsbook for the Kentucky Derby plummeted down to +1000, now co-fifth choice with Wood Memorial (G2) Sportsbook Tacitus.

His trainer Servis is well known among horseplayers for winning at a very high percentage, mostly with claiming horses. At the Gulfstream Park championship meeting he won at an incredible rate, visiting the Sportsbook’s circle 33 times with just 77 starters, an amazing 45 percent win clip. 

His lone start in the Kentucky Derby came last year with Firenze Fire, who checked in 11th. 

It is tough to knock a Grade 1 Sportsbook from a sharp barn coming into the Run for the Roses undefeated, but this colt could end up the underlay in the race if he goes off less than his current price of +1000.