Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA–Maximum Security (New Year's Day) continues to put his controversial disqualification in last year's GI Kentucky Derby further and further in the rear-view mirror, striding home a powerful winner of the inaugural $20-million Saudi Cup Saturday night in Riyadh.
Making his first start of the year, the 4-year-old was floated to the center of the track down the backstretch and was shuffled in traffic as he found ground to shadow the pacesetting Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man). Mucho Gusto drifted out at the top of the lane, forcing Maximum Security to float out to the center of the track. Saez guided Maximum Security inside of the pacesetter with 200 meters to run, only to have Mucho Gusto drift back in, but last year's champion 3-year-old would not be denied and closed determinedly. While the two 4-year-old colts were weaving down the lane, champion filly Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) was closing steadily along the rail to be second, three quarters of a length behind the determined Maximum Security. Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was two lengths back in third, with Mucho Gusto a length back in fourth.
Pedigree Notes
Maximum Security's dam Lil Indy was sold to Korean interests before the future champion had even started. Repatriated to the U.S. by SF Bloodstock following the colt's win in last year's GI Florida Derby, Lil Indy sold in foal to Quality Road for $1.85 million to Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Farm at last year's Keeneland November sale. Her Korean-bred filly by New Year's Day RNA'd for $190,000 at the same auction.
SAUDI CUP, $20,000,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-29, 3yo/up, 1800m, 1:50.58, ft.
1–MAXIMUM SECURITY, 126, c, 4, New Year's Day
1st Dam: Lil Indy, by Anasheed
2nd Dam: Cresta Lil, by Cresta Rider
3rd Dam: Rugosa, by Double Jay
O-Mr & Mrs Gary & Mary West, Mrs John Magnier, Michael
Tabor & Derrick Smith. B-Gary & Mary West Stables, Inc. (KY).
T-Jason Servis. J-Luis Saez. $12,000,000. Lifetime Record: Ch.
3yo Colt-US, MGISW-US, 10-8-1-0, $11,801,900.
2–Midnight Bisou, m, 5, Midnight Lute–Diva Delite, by Repent.
($19,000 RNA Ylg '16 KEESEP; $80,000 2yo '17 OBSAPR).
O-Bloom Racing Stables LLC, Allen Racing LLC & Madaket
Stables. B-Woodford Thoroughbreds (KY). T-Steven Asmussen.
$3,500,000.
3–Benbatl (GB), 126, h, 6, Dubawi (Ire)–Nahrain (GB), by
Selkirk. O-Godolphin. B-Darley (GB). T-Saeed bin Suroor.
$2,000,000.
Margins: 3/4, 2, HD.
Also Ran: Mucho Gusto, Tacitus, Gold Dream (Jpn), Chrysoberyl (Jpn), Mjjack (Ire), Magic Wand (Ire), Gronkowski, McKinzie, Great Scot (GB), North America (GB), Capezzano. VIDEO.
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