The heavily backed favourite Maximum Security was on the wrong side of history at Churchill Downs on Saturday when he was disqualified for interference and the Bill Mott-trained Country House was semaphored as the winner of the 145thKentucky Derby.
The undefeated Florida Derby winner Maximum Security set the pace on the sloppy track but on the home turn he drifted four wide causing severe interference to several runners before fighting on bravely to pass the post one and three-quarter lengths in front.
Third in the Grade I Arkansas Derby behind the likely Derby favourite Omaha Beach, who was scratched on the eve of the race, the 66/1 shot Country House was awarded the race and became the second longest priced Kentucky Derby winner.
A son of the former Coolomore shuttler Lookin' At Lucky, Country House found the right spot to earn his maiden stakes success.
Code of Honor (Noble Mission) was promoted to second and the winner's stablemate Tacitus (Tapit) to third.
The Japanese entrant Master Fencer (Jpn) clocked in an honourable sixth.
A three-quarter brother to Canadian Grade III-winning millionaire Breaking Lucky, who placed in the Grade 1 Clark Stakes and Grade 1 Whitney Stakes, and a half brother to black-type winner Mitchell Road, Country House is out of Quake Lake a daughter of Yarradale Stud's Breeders' Cup Mile hero War Chant (USA).
It was a
first Kentucky Derby for the popular Mott and jockey Flavien Prat.
"First of all, I think our horse ran great," Mott told The Blood-Horse.
"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."
