Maximum Security and Country House splash home in the Kentucky Derby
Maximum Security and Luis Saez were forwardly placed throughout the 145th run for the roses, carving out decent fractions of 22.31 for the 1/4 mile and 46.62 for the 1/2 according to equibase. They turned back all challenges and crossed the wire 1 3/4 lengths to the good to win the 2019 Kentucky Derby. But the pair had swung out wide on the far turn and impeded a few rivals, mainly War of Will and Long Range Toddy, and second place finisher Country House was also ever so slightly impeded by the melee and jockey Flavien Prat lodged an objection. Jon Court who was the oldest jockey to ride the Derby also claimed foul. There was also a stewards inquiry, but only the objection light was posted.
This led to the disqualification of Maximum Security from the winners share of a $3 million purse and he was placed 17th.
Country House was awarded the win at odds of 65/1, and Code Of Honor was moved up to second, Tacitus was placed third and Improbable fourth.
It was trainer Bill Mott’s first Kentucky Derby win and it was also Maximum Security’s first career loss after four victories.
The final time for the 1 1/4 mile event was 2:03.93 over a track listed as sloppy as shown on equibase.
Interestingly, Luis Saez had ridden Country House to an impressive maiden special weight win at Gulfstream, a second place finish in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds and then a fourth place finish in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby also at the New Orleans track. Saez moved to Florida Derby winner Maximum Security. Joel Rosario rode Country House to a third place finish in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. He opted to stay with Game Winner. Mike Smith’s decision to ride Omaha Beach who scratched late over Roadster received all the attention, but as it played out these other decisions had far more significance. Country House was like the horse nobody choose to ride and wound up going to Flavien Prat.
Bob Baffert’s three Derby runners, Game Winner, Improbable, and Roadster all failed to hit the board.
Maximum Security is not the first horse to be disqualified in the Kentucky Derby. In 1968, Dancer’s Image finished first. However, due to the discovery of phenylbutazone (Bute) in a post-race urinalysis of Peter Fuller’s homebred, the Kentucky State Racing Commission ordered redistribution of the purse, with first-place money to Forward Pass. After extensive litigation, the commission’s order was upheld in April 1972 by Kentucky’s highest court in Kentucky State Racing Commission et. al. v. Peter Fuller, 481 S. W. 298. In 1984, fourth-place finisher Gate Dancer was disqualified for interference in the stretch with Fali Time. Gate Dancer was placed fifth and Fali Time promoted to fourth seen on equibase charts.
After the disqualification Bill Mott called the awarded victory “bittersweet” and said;
“First of all, I think our horse ran great. I was really pleased with the position he had. I was pleased with the way Flavien rode him and the way the horse responded for him.
“As far as the win goes, it’s bittersweet. I would be lying if I said it was any different. You always want to win with a clean trip and have everybody recognize the horse for the great athlete that he is. I think, due to the disqualification, probably some of that is diminished. But this is horse racing.
“There were two horses in the race that lost all chance to win a Kentucky Derby, and they were in a position at the time to hit the board. I know the stewards had a very, very difficult decision. I’m glad I wasn’t in their shoes. I’m glad I didn’t have to make the decision in front of over a hundred thousand people and the millions of people that are watching on TV around the world. But with that being said, I’m damn glad they put our number up.”
Gary West, the breeder and owner of Maximum Security said after the race;
“Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. Sometimes you win and lose in the same race.”
Barbara Borden, chief steward for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, issued the following statement:
“The riders of the 18 (Long Range Toddy) and 20 (Country House) horses in the Kentucky Derby lodged objections against the seven horse, the winner, alleging interference turning for home leaving the quarter pole. We had a lengthy review of the race, interviewed affected riders, and determined that the seven horse drifted out and impacted the number 1 (War of Will), who in turn interfered with the 18 and 21 (Bodexpress). Those horses were all affected. Therefore, we unanimously determined to disqualify number 7 and place him behind 18. That is our typical procedure.”
Maximum Security’s trainer, Jason Servis, said an appeal would be considered.
“I think we can appeal to the stewards for sure. I think there will be a certain amount of time you can appeal,” Servis said. “I don’t know if it’s 48 hours or 72 hours, but there’s a certain amount of time you can appeal. I think we’re leaning that way. I think we are. I’ll get with Mr. West and see what we think.”
Owner Gary West stated he would like to review the video with the stewards, but was told that would not be possible until May 9. He said the rule may require that they file the appeal before that to meet a deadline. No decision on an appeal was made as of Saturday evening.
“We’ll just have to look at the films and see what we think after looking at the films, we need to look at what the stewards looked at. If we can’t look at films until Thursday, we’ll have to make a decision before that, probably. If the horse did something wrong, then I won’t feel bad at all.”
The full Equibase results of the Kentucky Derby below are as follows;
2019 Kentucky Derby Results:
Country House $132.40 56.60 24.60
Country House heading back to the barn after being declared the Derby winner
Code Of Honor 15.20 9.80
Tacitus 5.60
Improbable
Game Winner
$1 Exacta $1.504.80
.50-cent Trifecta $5,737.65
$1 Superfecta $51,737.65
$1 Superhighfive $544,185.90
Luis Saez raises his arm in a short lived victory aboard Maximum Security
Maximum Security and Luis Saez racing towards the wire in the Kentucky DerbyCountry House and Flavien Prat await the decision
A disappointed Maximum Security
Favored Bricks And Mortar edged out Qurbaan by 1/2-length to win the 33rd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Old ForesterTurf Classic on Saturday at Churchill Downs. Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Bricks And Mortar rallied into a slow pace with a mega-move as they straightened for home.
Markitoff established the early lead and Clyde’s Image chased in second and the two ran a 1/4 mile in 24.33 with Qurbaan on the rail in third, and Breaking The Rules hanging around in fourth. The 1/2 mile was a pokey 50.10 and the top positions remained unchanged. Meanwhile, Ortiz was giving Bricks And Mortar his cue and after straightening out in the lane the two went on to win as much the best. Bricks And Mortar completed the 1 1/8 mile contest on the turf in 1:51.80. It was the fourth straight win for the son of Giant’s Causeway, who is arguably one of the top turf horses in the US if not the world.
The Old Forester Turf Classic equibase results:
Bricks And Mortar $4.20 3.40 2.80
Qurbaan 9.80 6.60
Clyde’s Image 9.20
Raging Bull
$1 Exacta $23.30
.50-cent Trifecta $208.80
$1 Super $1,444.00
Bricks and Mortar and Irad Ortiz Jr. get it doneIrad showing the love to Bricks and Mortar
Digital Age stormed to victory in the Grade-2, $400,000 American Turf Stakes for 3-yr.-olds at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Digital Age was far back in the pack before the far turn but rallied in deep stretch to pass A Thread of Blue and Social Paranoia who were hooked up in a match race in the lane.
Ortiz moved Digital Age to the outside and put the colt in gear and his long stride mowed the pair down like they were standing still. A Thread Of Blue ran a tremendous race to hold second over Social Paranoia, who was also very tough in the stretch.
Trained by Chad Brown, Digital Age ran the 1 1/16 mile distance in a final time of 1:14.09.
The American Turf Stakes equibase results:
Digital Age $19.20 8.60 5.40
A Thread Of Blue 4.80 3.20
Social Paranoia 3.60
Seismic Wave
$1 Exacta $37.30
.50-cent Trifecta $79.00
$1 Superfecta $636.90
Irad Ortiz Jr. and Digital Age
Mr. Money and Gabriel Saez powered by horses in the stretch and ran to victory in the Grade 3, $400,000 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
Mr. Money Bags established the early lead out of the chute and ran a 1/4 mile in 22.21, according to equibase with Dunph and Manny Wah tracking in third and fourth. As they hit the far turn, the field collared Mr. Money Bags and he retreated and Mr. Money emerged with the lead, responded well in the lane and drew off easily. Hog Creek Hustle made a mild bid in the center of the racecourse but was no match for the winner and held second.
Dream Maker ran third and Captain Von Trapp ran fourth. Instagrand, the even-money favorite was nowhere to be found.
Trained by Bret Calhoun Mr. Money covered the Mile in 1:35.21 over a track listed as fast.
The Pat Day Mile equibase Results:
Mr. Money $17.00 8.00 5.40
Hog Creek Hustle 14.20 8.60
Dream Maker 9.60
Captain Von Trapp
$1 Exacta $100.60
,50-cent Trifecta $659.80
$1 Superfecta $18,185.20
Mr. Money and Gabriel Saez take the Pat Day Mile.
Mia Mischief took command as the field turned for home and drew off to an easy victory in the stretch to win the Grade-1, $500,000 Humana Distaff Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr,. the 4-yr.-old son of Into Mischief tracked leader Amy’s Challenge throughout the early going and was starting to edge up to the leader through at the 1/2 mile marker. Mia Mischief made his move on the turn and took off with authority. Marley’s Freedom closed well for second but was no match for the winner and came up about 2-lengths short. Amy’s Challenge held well for third.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Mia Mischief completed the 7-furlongs in 1:21.78 and now has 6 wins and 6 place finishes in 14 starts.
Humana Distaff equibase results:
Mia Mischief $25.00 7.00 4.20
Marley’s Freedom 3.00 2.60
Amy’s Challenge 3.40
Mia Mischief under Ricardo Santana Jr. takes the Humana Distaff
Beau Recall and Irad Ortiz surged to the lead from the back of the pack in deep stretch to take the 34th running of the Grade-2, $400,000 LonginesChurchill Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
Take These Chains took the early lead but settled a few paths out from the hedge and stayed wide while getting out a bit and ran a 1/4 mile in 23.82. Valedictorian and Capla Temptress were tracking in second and third and the wide trip of Take These Chains enabled those two to come through on the inside and vie for the lead. The race pretty much fell apart from there and Beau Recall had the momentum late and went on to prevail over Got Stormy by about 1 3/4 lengths.
Daddy Is A Legend got up for third and Environs ran fourth.
Churchill Distaff Turf Mile equibase results:
Beau Recall $23.00 11.60 6.80
Got Stormy 11.80 7.20
Daddy Is A Legend 4.00
Environs
$1 Exacta $145.20
.50-cent Trifecta $433.30
$1 Superfecta $5,391.90
Beau Recall and Irad Ortiz Jr. close to get up in the Distaff Turf Mile
Mitole and Ricardo Santana Jr. rolled to victory in deep stretch to take the 85th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Churchill Downs stakes on Saturday. Bobby’s Wicked One broke well and secured a good spot on the rail, as Promises Fulfilled, Mitole and Uncontested raced wide in the middle of the track and as the four hit the far turn they were heads apart. Bobby’s Wicked One rail saving trip paid off and he hung tough through the lane but Mitole powered by to a daylight score by about 4-lengths. Bobby’s Wicked One held second and Promises Fulfilled ran third.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Mitole completed the 7-furlong distance in 1:21.21 and the colt is on a six-race win streak.
Churchill Downs Stakesm equibase results:
Mitole $6.40 4.60 3.60
Bobby’s Wicked One 7.80 5.40
Promises Fulfilled 4.80
Do Share
$1 exacta $27.00
.50-cent Trifecta $64.00
$1 Superfecta $699.30
Mitole and Ricardo Santana Jr. take the Churchill Downs stakes
