In 2023 his trainer Jason Servis pled guilty to two charges related to the administration of performance-enhancing drugs to his stable and was sentenced to 48 months in prison.
[3] He was transferred to the barn of Bob Baffert and returned to racing on July 25, when he won the San Diego Handicap, followed by a win in the Pacific Classic.
As a sire New Year's Day was considered a disappointment and was sold in late 2018 to a Brazilian syndicate for a reported $5 million: Maximum Security subsequently became his first graded stakes winner.
Servis credited his success to unconventional training methods with a focus on slow, regular gallops with brief bursts of speed at the end, compared to the faster but less frequent workouts by most other trainers.
[6] After Servis was indicted in March 2020 for doping related allegations, Maximum Security was moved to the barn of Bob Baffert.
[7] Maximum Security had "unspecified physical issues" as a two-year-old and did not make his first start until December 20, 2018 in a maiden claiming race.
While Maximum Security regained his momentum and crossed the finish line first, he was disqualified to 17th place after 20 minutes of deliberation by the stewards.
[13] On May 14, 2019, the owners of Maximum Security sued in U.S. District Court in Frankfort, Kentucky, seeking to reinstate the win and distribute purse money based on the actual order of finish.
[14] On June 8, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission filed a motion requesting dismissal of the lawsuit, stating that it "threatens to turn the 'most exciting two minutes in sports' into tedious, protracted litigation.
"[15] In November 2019, the lawsuit was dismissed, citing "the stewards’ decision in determining fouls and disqualifications of horses is final and not subject to appeal".
He returned to the track on June 16, when he was made 1-20 favorite for the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park, but sustained an upset defeat as he was beaten by a length by King for a Day.
Around the far turn, first Bethlehem Road and then King for a Day dropped back, leaving Maximum Security and Mucho Gusto to battle for the lead.
He then faced a stewards' inquiry after he appeared to bear in slightly on the far turn when King for a Day started to tire.
"[23] Maximum Security finished his three-year-old campaign by winning the Cigar Mile Handicap on December 7 at Aqueduct Racetrack as the 6-5 favorite.
[25] Maximum Security was named the American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse at the 49th annual Eclipse Awards with 217 out of 241 votes.
He passed Mucho Gusto with about 100 yards remaining, then held off Midnight Bisou, who made a late run along the rail.
[32] He made his first start for Baffert in the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on July 25, carrying top weight of 127 pounds.
Maximum Security was specifically named as one of the horses that had been administered performance-enhancing drugs when trainer Jason Servis was indicted on March 9, 2020.
Maximum Security was allegedly administered a designer drug, SGF-1000, "intended to promote tissue repair and increase a horse's stamina and endurance."
A veterinarian subsequently agreed to alter Maximum Security's records to falsely show the horse was administered "dex" to explain any such result.
[36] Because of the charges, some industry leaders questioned whether Maximum Security should be stripped of the Eclipse Award he won as a three-year-old, especially if subsequent testing revealed previously undetected drug positives.
"[40] In January 2024 the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia formally recommended Maximum Security's disqualification, claiming that Servis committed "substantial breaches of the rules."