KY Stewards' Report: Prat's Objection Came From Track

A Kentucky Horse Racing Commission stewards report on the 2019 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) indicates the initial objection from Flavien Prat came while the rider was still on the track.

The "steward's report," acquired by BloodHorse through an open-records request to the KHRC, provides added detail on the stewards' decision to disqualify Gary and Mary West's Maximum Security from victory and place him 17th in the May 4 Derby at Churchill Downs.

Although the report provides more detail than the statement released after the race by chief state steward Barbara Borden, it is consistent with that May 4 statement, which noted Maximum Security was disqualified from victory for interference with War of Will and chain-reaction interference with Bodexpress and Long Range Toddy. He was placed behind the latter, in 17th. The disqualification meant second-under-the-wire Country House was awarded victory.

Borden's May 4 statement said the stewards' decision followed objections by Flavien Prat, jockey of runner-up Country House, and Jon Court, rider of Long Range Toddy. The "steward's report," received by BloodHorse the afternoon of May 9, indicates that Prat's objection was made on the track while Court's was filed after he'd dismounted his Derby horse.

According to the filing, "an objection was lodged via radio through the outrider by the rider of second place #20 Country House (Flavien Prat) alleging interference by the rider of the winner #7 Maximum Security (Luis Saez) near the 5/16 pole. In addition, an objection was lodged via telephone at the winner's circle by the rider (of) #18 Long Range Toddy (Jon Court) who finished seventeenth, also alleging interference near the 5/16 pole."

The report notes the DQ followed a "thorough and lengthy review" and interviews with Saez, Prat, and Court. Based on the report, Tyler Gaffalione, rider of the initial horse fouled, War of Will, was not interviewed. Chris Landeros, rider of Bodexpress, also was not interviewed.

The report then provides a detailed account of the foul, as viewed by the stewards.

"The stewards determined that #7 Maximum Security (Saez) veered out into the path of #1 War of Will (Tyler Gaffalione), who was forced to check and who, in turn, impeded #18 Long Range Toddy (Court), who came out into #21 Bodexpress (Chris Landeros), who had to check sharply, making contact with #20 Country House (Prat)."

The report wraps up noting Maximum Security was disqualified and placed behind Long Range Toddy in 17th.

Stewards Report for May 4, 2019 at Churchill Downs

In the Saturday night statement to the media, Borden outlined the unanimous stewards' decision while seated between commission steward Brooks "Butch" Becraft and association steward Tyler Picklesimer in the Churchill press conference room. Borden did not take questions from reporters.

"The riders of the 18 (Long Range Toddy) and 20 (Country House) horses of the Kentucky Derby lodged objections against the 7 horse (Maximum Security), the winner, due to interference turning for home near the quarter pole. We had a lengthy review of the race. We interviewed affected riders. We determined that the 7 horse drifted out and impacted the progress of No. 1, in turn interfering with the 18 and 21. Those horses were all affected, we thought, by the interference.

"Now, therefore, we unanimously determined to disqualify No. 7 and place him behind the No. 18, the 18 being the lowest-placed horse that he bothered, which is our typical procedure."

The objection sign was posted, but the inquiry sign was never posted. The stewards' decision took nearly 22 minutes, 21:57 to be exact, according to a Churchill spokesman.