Maximum Security on top with Midnight Bisou the filly in second. No video up yet tut hopefully they will add it soon. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/238786/maximum-security-finds-redemption-in-saudi-cup
I was rooting for Bisou to win but still very happy! Wanted Max second so if it’s flip flopped that fine! Both ran awesome races.
My hope was MS on top and Bisou second though I wouldn’t have complained if they were switched. Gutsy strong performance by both!
Here is full video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvPnHggQ5wU
What a great race!
Great race, but Midnight Bisou impressed me the most. What a race against males and off a long layoff! She will be a danger in the Dubai World Cup if she runs there.
Yay, Maximum Security! And terrific run also by Midnight Bisou.
So glad for MS’s team! Although Irad Ortiz was driving Mucho Gusto all over the track. What’s with that?!?
Very gutsy win.
Vindicated and validated!!! #myderbywinner
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So damn thrilled for MS & his connections!
Also what a great run by MB 💖
If she goes on to Dubai, she will be one to watch for sure.
I was very disappointed that the BH article says so little about Midnight Bisou. I hope that she came out of this well. It simply said she finished second. They talked more about Mckinzie…:mad:
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Surprised few have mentioned Much Gustos bumper car performance. Especially seen head on. Yikes. No effect on the outcome but still worth looking at.
Smith and Ortiz have been fined and suspended for their Saudi Cup rides: https://www.horseracingnation.com/news/Jockeys_Smith_Ortiz_fined_and_suspended_for_Saudi_Cup_rides_123
It certainly doesn’t look good for American racing to have the riders of the 2nd and 4th place finishers both in violation of Saudi whip rules. :no:
That should be humiliating for them (although I doubt it) but I am glad they hit them in the pocket. IMHO, they do not take this stuff seriously enough in the US. And, I hope that the US DOES honor the suspensions. To not do so would be a real insult to the Saudis
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Yes, Ortiz’s suspension seems to be only whip-related (which is of course a good thing). However I would have thought he would have gotten something more for that crazy zig-zag stretch run.
California is reciprocating on the suspension for Smith and Ortiz.
That’s alot on money for hitting that mare an extra four times. In addition, he hit her out of stride. I hope that they learn from it.
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I hope they learn from it also. It’s actually nice to see them set down and fined significant money for hitting a horse excessive amounts. 14 times down the stretch…eeek.
Got to say: I loved the video work of the race. The rail view of them thundering out of the gate just exemplified the pure power of the racehorse.
Midnight Bisou: what a stretch run. She was dead last at the top of the stretch. Just makes me a bit sad she had to be hit so many times to get there.
Thought Maximum Security looked the best he has in awhile. He looks like he’s grown and matured. He is a rather beautiful horse. He definitely showed his heart despite being pushed tremendously wide in the early stretch.
I watched the replay and honestly couldn’t believe the Ortiz happenings that started on the final turn. Mucho Gusto was already drifting to the extreme center and Ortiz continued to hit him left handed a few times which made it worse. then switched right. Saw him look back twice. Not sure if the antics were planned or what was going on there. It was definitely odd.
I agree; our whip rules are extremely lapse. And we often don’t honor suspensions overseas. But I am happy to see them doing so and I wish we would take the same gusto with upholding rules regarding whip use.
My favorite tweet about it: “Mucho Gusto was interfering with horses who weren’t even in this race.”
I don’t think there’s ANY way that wasn’t deliberate on Ortiz’s part. It was kind of amusing in a twisted way–trying to give Maximum Security a “taste of his own medicine”? Instead MS is like “going outside–no–going–okay still no–going out–okay, FINE, we’ll just go inside then!”
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Both Maximum Security and Midnight Bisou will campaign in the US with plans to finish in this year’s BC.
It is expected that McKinzie will also return to the US while Mucho Gusto and Tacitus will stay in the Middle East to train toward the Dubai World Cup March 18.
Tacitus…I suspect this horse is a notch or two below Gr. 1 company. I suppose Juddmonte wants him to have more on his resume than a nice pedigree and a bunch of seconds and thirds in top company.
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Smith speaks out regarding his suspension
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/238855/smith-responds-to-saudi-riding-suspension
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