Bargain colt Maximum Security runs away with $1 million Florida Derby

March is the month for Cinderella stories in sports and Maximum Security created an exhilarating one for thoroughbred racing Saturday.

A bargain-basement colt, who could have been claimed out of his Dec. 20 debut for $16,000, he led every step of the $1 million Florida Derby to ring up his fourth straight victory and head to the Kentucky Derby as one of the horses to beat.

“I guess this ruins my fishing in May,” winning trainer Jason Servis said.

Luis Saez rated Maximum Security brilliantly, outrunning the 2-1 favorite Hidden Scroll to the first turn, then slowing down the fractions so that his horse was still fresh when they turned for home. “When I asked him to take off, I had plenty of horse,” Saez said.