Maximum Security Enters 2025 On High Note
It was two winners in four days for Maximum Security this week when Gaga's Hamsome (2f Maximum Security x California Breeze, by Into Mischief) ended 2024 as his 17th juvenile winner and Max’s Redemption (3f Maximum Security x Time to Play, by Medaglia d’Oro) was his first of 2025.
Based in New York, the Edward Bark trained Gaga’s Hamsome looked to end her year on a high note in the seven furlong dirt race.
Dylan Davis had to coax his mount early, but she raced just a few lengths off the leader throughout the early stages. Sent on a mission to catch the leader around the turn, she secured the lead shortly after. Another rival went with her, but she was able to shake that one off in the final furlong and had a length between them at the line.
The Highclere-bred filly races for Danny Chen out of the Into Mischief mare California Breeze, who was a three-time winner herself.
Making her second start after a solid second on debut in 2024, the Gary and Mary West homebred was set to make her Fair Grounds debut in the six furlong dirt race.
A troubled start saw her in midpack early on before making her way closer to the front as the field approached the turn. From there, she was in a comfortable position to track the leader from the four path.
In the stretch, she reeled that pacemaker in, though she didn’t have the advantage until just before the wire when she won by a head as the race favorite.
Trained by Brad Cox, she is out of two-time winning Godolphin-bred Time to Play. That mare sold in foal to Maximum Security in November of the year this filly was born.
Maximum Security ended 2024 as a top 10 freshman sire by winners with 17, including the Group III placed Rosa Salvaje.