Preakness Decision Looms for Country House After Derby

While there was certainly talk of the May 18 Preakness Stakes (G1) outside Bill Mott's Barn 19 at Churchill Downs the morning of May 5, what dominated the conversation was the disqualification of Maximum Security that awarded the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) to Mrs. J.V. Shields Jr., E.J.M. McFadden Jr., and LNJ Foxwoods' Country House.

"I really believe that the call that was made yesterday shows the integrity of the sport," said Mott, who also noted he didn't believe it would have been a difficult decision for stewards had it been the first race on the card and not the Kentucky Derby. 

Country House, ridden by Flavien Prat, crossed the wire second, 1 3/4 lengths behind Maximum Security. Country House was brushed by Long Range Toddy, who was impacted along with War of Will and Bodexpress when Maximum Security veered out at the quarter pole. Running on the far outside, Country House avoided the brunt of the incident.

"It's such a critical point in the race," Mott said. "When you reach the quarter pole, particularly in a dirt race, there's no time to put the breaks on and then go again. You could see the two horses that got bothered, apart from War of Will—Long Range Toddy and Bodexpress—they didn't recover at all. Once they got hammered, they were done.

"If it happens leaving the gate, it happens in the first turn, those horses are still on the bridle. It's happened and then they regain their position and then they make their run. But once they've started to make their run leaving the three-eighths pole, which most of them probably do, I think they start putting them to the test at that point. Once they stop there, it's really hard to recover. It takes a super horse to recover."

The stewards placed Maximum Security 17th, one place behind Long Range Toddy, the lowest-placed horse impacted. War of Will was seventh and Bodexpress was 13th. Both Prat and Jon Court aboard Long Range Toddy lodged an objection against Maximum Security, piloted by Luis Saez. War of Will's jockey, Tyler Gaffalione, did not lodge an objection.

HAMMONDS: Country House Awarded Kentucky Derby Via DQ

"I feel terrible that I have to apologize for winning, and I really feel terrible for the connections, for the owners," Mott said. "I hate to sit there and apologize, saying something as foolish as 'I'm sorry I won,' because I don't want to give them the wrong impression that I'm unhappy about winning, because I'm not. I'm thrilled. I'm thrilled with the horse, I'm thrilled with everybody that's worked with the horse, and I think they deserve the win.

"It's just such an unusual way to have to go to the winner's circle and win a Kentucky Derby. This Kentucky Derby will be talked about for a long time. I think it will be probably up there with (jockey Bill) Shoemaker standing up at the sixteenth pole (aboard Gallant Man in 1957 and finishing second to Iron Liege). It's just one of those things—it's not going to go away. But we're going to take the win. We're going to take it, and hopefully we come back. Hopefully, Country House comes back and runs big in the future, whatever race it may be, and, I guess, sort of redeems himself a little bit."

Mott also had Tacitus in the Derby. Juddmonte Farms' homebred crossed the wire fourth and was placed third following the disqualification.

"Last night both horses, actually, Tacitus and Country House, they were fine," Mott said. "They recovered so well and ate up right away, which is always a good sign after a hard race like that. Initially, it looks like both horses came out really well. Really pleased with the way both horses performed. Not only Country House, but Tacitus came with a very good run. He got interfered with a little bit himself. I don't think it cost him the win, but Tacitus got bothered a little bit, too, in the race, just had to change his course a little bit leaving the quarter pole."

Both Country House and Tacitus will stay with Mott's Churchill Downs string and assistant Kenny McCarthy at least a few days to be re-evaluated. Immediately after the two crossed the wire Saturday, Mott saw them as strong contenders for the June 8 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1). But that was before Country House was declared the winner.

"Having the Derby winner, you're pretty much forced to go into the Preakness," Mott said. "Frankly, when the horses crossed the wire, I mean I was elated. I thought our horses ran really well, and being second, I said, 'Well, there's no real pressure to go to the Preakness.'

"Both horses are very well suited for the Belmont, but now we got to rethink that, and certainly probably for Country House. With Tacitus, I don't think it's any pressure to go to the Preakness. I think we can just wait and go to the Belmont with him, and then we've got to make the decision for Country House."

Country House broke his maiden third time out at Gulfstream Park in January, rallying to a 3 1/2-length win around two turns. He then ran second to War of Will in the Feb. 16 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, fourth in the March 23 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2), and third in the April 13 Arkansas Derby (G1), three weeks out from the Kentucky Derby, at Oaklawn Park.

"Now we're talking about a horse that's had quite a few races. I think if you run back in the Preakness—maybe you hit the board, maybe you don't, maybe you win—but it probably compromises his chances a little bit to win the Belmont," Mott said. "That's just looking at it as a trainer and what would be normal. But the Triple Crown is not a normal situation. It never has been. I don't think they should space anything out anymore. I think the challenge of the Triple Crown is that it's three races close together, and it takes a champion—hey, it takes a Justify —to win those kind of races."

Should Country House travel to Pimlico Race Course for the Preakness, Mott said he would likely ship in the colt the week of the race from Churchill Downs.

"I think the light bulb came on yesterday," Mott said of Country House, "and we've been waiting for that because I don't think he's ever figured out how to give 100% before. I think he gave 99% yesterday. It certainly looked like it was a big move forward, so to speak, from any of his previous races."