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Improbable, Maximum Security 1-2 in Awesome Again S. (G1)
Saturday, September 26, 2020
Improbable gave his trainer Bob Baffert a record sixth win in the $300,000 Awesome Again S. (G1) on Saturday when the 4-year-old colt beat his stablemate Maximum Security by 4 ½-lengths.

The dominant victory earned the colt owned by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club International and SF Racing an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) next month, where he will likely face Maximum Security once again.

The win was Improbable's fourth Grade 1 score and upped his record to 7-3-0 in 14 starts, with earnings of $1,709,520.

At the break, there was a four-way scramble for the lead, with Improbable and jockey Drayden Van Dyke trailing the five-horse field. Van Dyke let Improbable drop a half-dozen lengths from the front down the backside, then began his charge midway around the turn. He swept to the lead coming into the stretch and overwhelmed his competition in the lane, with Maximum Security his closest pursuer all the way to the wire. 

“I knew I was coming in here with two really good horses,” Baffert said. “Maximum Security was in that scrum and they were really running up close. I saw Drayden, he knew what was happening, so he just sat back. He rode a great race, he knew what was going on, he took his time, rode him with patience. He's had good luck with this horse. He loves this track. He seems to be better in the gate here, that's why we ran him here. I hate to see my horses have to beat the other horse, but 'Max' ran gallantly. He fended off the speed but the next one is the big one, but today it was all about Improbable.”

Maximum Security also had already secured a Breeders' Cup spot with his win in the Pacific Classic (G1). He and Improbable, along with Kentucky Derby (G1) Authentic, could give Baffert three Classic starters this year. The Classic runs at Keeneland on Nov. 7.

Baffert first won the Awesome Again, then named the Goodwood, with Silver Charm in 1998. 

Baffert 2013