Country House Wins Kentucky Derby After Maximum Security Is Disqualified
Country House was named the winner of 145th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday after Maximum Security, who crossed the finish line first, was disqualified.
Jockey Flavien Prat, who rode Country House, filed an objection claiming that Maximum Security came out of his lane in the final turn. Stewards reviewed the race footage for nearly 20 minutes and ruled that Maximum Security made contact with War of Will, who ran into Country House. Despite Maximum Security winning by 1 3/4 lengths on the muddy track, the stewards declared Country House the new champion. Code of Honor was named the second-place finisher and Tacitus came in third.
Saturday's decision marks the first time in Kentucky Derby history that a horse was disqualified on the track due to a foul. In 1968, Dancer's Image finished first in the Derby but was later disqualified for failing a drug test.
Country House entered the Derby as a longshot at 65–1 odds. In seven starts, the thoroughbred has two first-place finishes, two seconds and one third.
Last year's Derby started an exciting Triple Crown journey after Justify won and broke the Curse of Apollo. He became the first colt in 136 years to win the Derby after not racing as a two-year-old. Justify, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by jockey Mike Smith, went on to win the Triple Crown.
Next up in the race for this year's Triple Crown is the Preakness Stakes on May 18 at Pimlico Race Course in Maryland.
2019 Kentucky Derby Full Finish Order:
1. Country House
2. Code of Honor
3. Tacitus
4. Improbable
5. Game Winner
6. Master Fencer
7. War of Will
8. Plus Que Parfait
9. Win Win Win
10. Cutting Humor
11. By My Standards
12. Vekoma
13. Bodexpress
14. Tax
15. Roadster
16. Long Range Toddy
17. Maximum Security
18. Spinoff
19. Gray Magician
