Luis Saez rides Maximum Security, center, across the finish line first, ahead of Country House and jockey Flavien Prat, left, during the Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Country House was declared the winner after Maximum Security was disqualified after a review by race stewards.LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Maximum Security led the Kentucky Derby every step of the way except for the last one – into the winner’s circle.
The colt became the first winning horse disqualified for interference in the Kentucky Derby’s 145-year history, leading to an agonizing wait and an eventual stunning reversal that made 65-1 shot Country House the winner Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Country House finished second in the slop before objections were raised, causing a 20-minute delay while stewards repeatedly reviewed several angles of video footage before he was elevated to winning status.
That gave Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott his first Kentucky Derby victory at age 65.
“It’s bittersweet. You always want to win with a clean trip and have everybody recognize the horse as the very good horse and great athlete that he is,” Mott said. “Due to the disqualification, I think some of that is diminished.”