65-1 Country House wins the Kentucky Derby after the disqualification of Maximum Security!

 

COUNTRY HOUSE PLACED FIRST VIA DQIN A KENTUCKY DERBY FOR THE AGES

by Steve Sherack. LOUISVILLE, KY

On this First Saturday in May, it was the most exciting 22 minutes in sports. Maximum Security (New Year=s Day), unbeaten in his first four career starts, including the GI Florida Derby, led the field every step of the way beneath Luis Saez and crossed the wire 1 3/4 lengths clear of 65-1 longshot Country House (Lookin At Lucky) before a rain-soaked crowd of 150,729. The celebration for owners Gary and Mary West and trainer Jason Servis was short lived, however, asthe tote board began flashing Maximum Security=s number seven after a pair of jockey’s objections lodged by Country House=s rider Flavien Prat, as well as Jon Court, aboard Long Range Toddy (Take Charge Indy), who tired to 17th.

Maximum Security, off as the 9-2 second-choice, showed the way through fractions of :22.31 and :46.62 over the sloppy, sealed going, and veered out sharply at the five-sixteenths pole, impeding War of Will (War Front), who reported home eighth. The incident caused a wild chain reaction, also impacting the aforementioned Long Range Roddy and eventual 14th-place finisher Bodexpress (Bodemeister). After a review of no less than 22 minutes, Maximum Security was disqualified for the infraction and placed 17th behind Long Range Toddy. This was the first disqualification in the 145-year history of the Kentucky Derby. Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}), who shot up the rail at the top of the stretch as Maximum Security wandered, was elevated from third to second. The stretch-running Tacitus (Tapit) was moved up a slot to third. Barbara Borden, Chief Steward for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, offered a brief, prepared statement while not taking questions from the large press corp on hand. AWe had a lengthy review of the race,@ she said. AWe interviewed the affected riders. We determined that [Maximum Security] drifted out and impacted the progress of [War of Will], in turn, interfering with [Long Range Toddy] and [Bodexpress]. These horses were all affected, we thought, by the interference. Therefore, we unanimously determined to disqualify number [Maximum Security] and place him behind [Long Range Toddy].@ Of the disqualification, Servis said, AI don’t think it changed the outcome of the race. It looks like something scared him in the infield. I feel bad for the Wests. It looked like he ducked out a little bit. It hasn’tsunk in yet, but it will.

fonte : TDN

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1488612967936746 (video on facebook)