DEL MAR, Calif. � Slow early, fast late. That was how Maximum Security worked on a warm Sunday morning at Del Mar, his final drill before he starts favored in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic next Saturday.
"He's ready now," trainer Bob Baffert said after Maximum Security worked seven furlongs in company following the 6:30 a.m. renovation. Maximum Security broke off behind McKale at the 5 {-furlong pole, rolled past his workmate in the lane, and galloped out a mile in 1:38.20.
Maximum Security earned an official seven-furlong work time of 1:25.40, and Baffert was pleased at how he finished and galloped out under exercise rider Juan Ochoa. Baffert timed his splits in 48 sec-onds, 1:01.60, 1:13, and 1:25.40.
Baffert said Maximum Security has changed since he came to him.
"When I got him, I couldn't get him to do anything," he said. "He was the laziest guy. Now, he's doing it."
Maximum Security won the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles by a nose in his comeback last month and will be racing 1 \ miles for the first time since he crossed the wire first in the 2019 Ken-tucky Derby. After the Sunday work, Baffert was asked about the Pacific Classic distance and if it was a potential challenge.
"He just went out in 38, like nothing," he said, referring to the workout.
Baffert said the longer distance of the Pacific Classic "is not a challenge."
The 2020 Pacific Classic field will be small and will include 2019 winner Higher Power, who also worked in company after the 6:30 break on Sunday.
Higher Power, under assistant trainer and exercise rider Juan Leyva, broke off at the five-furlong pole behind St. Joe Bay and worked a furlong past the wire. Trainer John Sadler timed Higher Power in 1:12.60 and galloping out seven furlongs in 1:24.80. His official work time was six furlongs in 1:12.80.
A field of six entered the Pacific Classic, but Sharp Samurai is likely to scratch and run Sunday in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile.
The Pacific Classic field, in post position order from rail out with rider and morning-line odds: Midcourt, Victor Espinoza, 7-2; Higher Power, Flavien Prat, 3-1; Mirinaque, Tiago Pereira, 10-1; Dark Vader, Umberto Rispoli, 12-1; Maximum Security, Abel Cedillo, 1-1; and Sharp Samurai, Juan Hernandez, 8-1.
