OCEANPORT, N.J. – Haskell Invitational and Florida Derby winner Maximum Security is out of Saturday’s Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx due to a large colon nephrosplenic entrapment that developed shortly after the colt returned from a morning work on Monday, trainer Jason Servis announced on Tuesday. Servis said that an issue developed with his star 3-year-old late Monday afternoon, and that Maximum Security was rushed to the Mid-Atlantic Equine Clinic in Ringoes, N.J., where the diagnosis was made by Dr. Janik Gasiorowski. The medical issue is not considered career threatening.

“I’ve spoken to the Wests (owners Gary and Mary) and they understand that it’s all about the horse. That’s first and foremost,” said Servis. “There’s nothing that anyone could have done to prevent it. It’s one of those things that just happens. It’s unfortunate and the timing is terrible but that’s horse racing.”

Maximum Security had gone a one-mile lick at Parx early Monday morning without incident, with Servis saying he was summoned to his barn around 3:30 p.m. because something was amiss with the horse. “He was doing great,” Servis said. “But I soon as I saw him I could tell he was in trouble so we got him right on the van and sent him to the Mid-Atlantic Equine Clinic.”

Servis said he did not have a time frame for a possible racing return for Maximum Security, holding out hope, he said, for the Breeders’ Cup “or something else that might be out there.” Maximum Security is currently back in Servis’ barn at Monmouth Park.

Updated Pennsylvania Derby Field with Odds

1 - Math Wizard - 6/1
2 - Improbable - 8/5
3 - Shanghai Superfly - 30/1
4 - War of Will - 5/1
5 - Spun to Run - 8/1
6 - Mr. Money - 2/1
7 - Maximum Security - SCR