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| Jockey Luis Saez rose from the saddle after Maximum Security beat Bodexpress in Saturday's Florida Derby. Bourbon War, with Irad Ortiz Jr. up, is shown finishing a close fourth. (Photo by Derbe Glass via Paulick Report) |
The 1⅛-mile race was won in 1:48.96 by undefeated but not-as-well-regarded Maximum Security, who went off at 9-2, led wire to wire under Luis Saez and earned 100 Derby points, guaranteeing a Kentucky Derby spot for a horse that won first race, a $16,000 claimer, on Dec. 20.
Bodexpress, an 0-for-4 maiden colt who went off at 70-1, was second, and earned 40 points, almost assuring him of a Kentucky Derby slot. Code of Honor, bred and owned by Will Farish, ran third and added 20 points to the 54 he already had -- enough to be in the Derby, having edged out Bourbon War in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream.
Bourbon War is owned by Bourbon Lane Stable of Midway and Lake Star Stable. The owners were interviewed on TVG shortly before the race, and said 100 of their friends and family went to Hallandale Beach for the race.
The horse's 31 points place him 15th in the Derby point standings. He has the least non-restricted stakes earnings, $90,200, of the top 21 horses. Haikal, owned by Dubai-based Shadwell Stable, which has a large farm near Midway, ranks eighth with 50 points and has earnings of $247,500.
Today, Bourbon War was the occasional betting favorite at 9-5 or 2-1; he had the latter odds at post time and was second choice to Hidden Scroll. He broke from the fourth hole and was near the back of the 11-horse field until about half a mile to go, when jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. went outside to find running room and put on an effort to get into the money.
Maximum Security returned $11.60, $7.40 and $5.40. Bodexpress paid $47.40 and $16.60 and Code of Honor paid $4.20 to show.
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