” Maximum Effort”

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
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The two colts that were first and second in the UAE Derby on March 30 in Dubai were most recently running in the Risen Star in Louisiana and the Miracle Wood at Laurel Park in Maryland respectively. Neither was impressive in those races. So much for the Godolphin invasion this year.

Plus Que Parfait (Point of Entry) picked up 100 points and is safely in the Kentucky Derby starting gate with 104. Gray Magician (Graydar) received 40 points (41 altogether) and probably has enough to get in if his connections decide to go. Derby fever runs high this time of year. It’s sort of like the flu season ends and . . .

The only thing the Florida Derby proved was that an unbeaten claimer could defeat some of the best the East Coast had to offer.

Maximum Security (4-4-0-0) went right to the lead in the mile-and-an-eighth race at Gulfstream Park and never looked back, winning by more than 3 lengths. A son of New Year’s Day (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champion in 2013) ran a respectful 1:48.86 and looked like he can go farther.

The favorites, Hidden Scroll and Code of Honor, were sixth and third and were not a threat in the race. Trainers Bill Mott and Shug McGaughey both said they may have tried to climb a mountain too high and will rethink the Derby trail.

Speaking of the “trail” it gets hotter and deeper April 6 with the Wood Memorial (Aqueduct), Blue Grass (Keeneland) and Santa Anita Derby. Maybe some order will be restored with those races. After that there’s only two points races left; the Lexington at Keeneland and the Arkansas Derby on April 13 at Oaklawn.

I’m going to leave a couple of colts out of my rankings this week even though they have enough points to get into the Derby. I just don’t think they are good enough.

Omaha Beach is a tough colt that will put up a fight. The son of War Front has 37.5 points.

Game Winner, a son of Candy Ride, looks to improve on the Rebel. He has 45 points.

Improbable this son of City Zip has 25 points.

Maximum Security has 100 points and he looked good in Florida. Happy New Year.

War of Will stays here until we find out if he’s healthy. The War Front colt has 60 points.

Long Range Toddy has the pedigree (Take Charge Indy) for the Classic distances. He has 53.5 points.

By My Standard has 100 points for the Louisiana Derby win so he has to be on the list. He’s by Goldencents.

Haikal, a son of Daaher, has 50 points and is headed to the Wood.

Tacitus, an offspring of Tapit, also is headed to the Wood. He has 50 points.

Spinoff was just nosed out in the Louisiana Derby. The son of Hard Spun has 40 points.

Cutting Humor has 50 points and I want to see if he’s for real. He is a son of First Samurai.

Code of Honor has 74 points but he may not be in the Derby. Noble Mission is his sire.

Cover Photo: Maximum Security; Leslie Martin Photo