Country House awarded Kentucky Derby
Sunday 5 May 2019 09:12, UK
Country House was sensationally awarded the 145th Kentucky Derby by the Churchill Downs stewards after first-past-the-post Maximum Security was disqualified.
It looked like trainer Jason Servis had followed in the footsteps of his brother, John, who won the 2004 renewal with Smarty Jones, when Maximum Security hit the wire in first place under Luis Saez, but interference on the home turn saw an objection made.
The second-past-the-post, Country House, was hardly affected at all in the scrimmaging, but War Of Will was impeded, almost coming down, and the stewards felt that was enough to disqualify Maximum Security who had drifted to his right, causing the incident, on the sloppy surface when in front.
That meant 65/1 longshot Country House, trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Flavien Prat, was awarded the race, the first time in the long history of the prestigious contest that a disqualification of the first-past-the-post had been made for a race-riding incident.
Maximum Security was two lengths in front at the line, looking a deserved winner after finding plenty for pressure in the straight.
Code Of Honor was promoted to second place and Tacitus, the winner's stablemate, moving up to third.
It was a first triumph in the Churchill Downs showpiece for trainer Bill Mott and jockey Flavian Prat.
"It feels pretty darn good. It was an odd way to do it," Mott told NBC Sports.
"It's a bittersweet victory but I have to say our horse ran very well, our jockey rode very well.
"I'm thrilled to death for all the connections and I think they are very deserving. We'll just have to prove ourselves in the future."
Prat said: "I'm kind of speechless right now. It's a weird feeling, but it's a good one," said Prat.
"No-one can describe that. It's amazing.
"I lost my momentum round the turn. I thought I was going to win and it kind of cost me.
"It probably feels different this way but I've never won the Derby before."
