Maximum Security Colt Earns Preakness Bid in Bathhouse Row

Maximum Security’s Instant Replay (3c Maximum Security x Academy Gal, by Medaglia d’Oro) earned a spot in the Grade I Preakness Stakes on Saturday with a win in the Bathhouse Row Stakes.

A good third in last month’s Grade II Louisiana Derby, Instant Replay was sent North for this 1 1/8-mile dirt race as he looked for his first stakes victory. He raced wide throughout when under a tight hold by Flaiven Prat, who was happy to sit off the pace.

Moving just a path closer in the second turn, he wasn’t asked for everything until the stretch. Instant Replay wasn’t in front until the final sixteenth, but was in charge when it counted to win by three quarters of a length as the favorite.

Trained by Brad Cox as a homebred for Gary and Mary West, the earner of $313,358 has won three of seven starts with two other top three finishes.

The colt is out of a daughter of the stakes-placed Flashy Gal, who is one of three stakes performers for her own dam. The page also includes champion Hold That Tiger and dual Grade I winner Editor’s Note among others.

Academy Gal has a 2-year-old full brother to this winner to come.

This is the first stakes winner for Maximum Security, who has sired 28 winners and four stakes performers in his first crop.