MAXIMUM SECURITY TAKES THE FLORIDA DERBY IN STYLE – SANTA ANITA REOPENS WITH A BUNCH OF STAKES RACES

Maximum Security had never won a Stakes race before but all that changed with his wire to wire win in the prestigious Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. The horse is now unbeaten in four starts and could be the real deal as he reeled off his fourth win in as many starts. He broke his maiden in December in a $16,000 claiming race, and the win on Saturday was the first stakes victory ever for trainer Jason Servis. The winning margin was 3½ lengths and the owners of the colt also own top contender Game Winner so they could very well have the first two horses in the betting on May 4th. This is an important handicapping factor since the favorite has won the last six runnings of the Derby.
Jockey Luis Saez had a nice leisurely up front stroll on the 7-2 shot and when the time came for the racing to begin he just put the horse in cruise control to win easily from Bonde Express and Code of Honor. The favorite was the over-hyped Hidden Scroll who faded to sixth and his connections need a drastic change of approach for this particular horse.
Over on the West Coast at Santa Anita there was only one story to talk about and that was the win by jockey Victor Espinoza in the San Marcos Stakes aboard St. Joe Bay. This was extremely significant because it was his first comeback win since returning to the track early in the month and his first win in ten months. Espinoza of course was partially paralyzed in a freak accident at Del Mar in the summer when his horse had a heart attack on the track. A long and painful recovery period ensued, but like the champion he is Espinoza is anxious to add to his 3,358 career wins. This one time journeyman rider will always be remembered for the golden period recently when he was aboard California Chrome and American Pharoah for their history making achievements.