Lookin' At Lucky's Country House Wins Kentucky Derby in Stewards Room

Mark Smith - Sunday May 5

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.

Advertisement


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."

Advertisment
More Reading...
SWs in foal to Wootton Bassett and Snitzel headline the June (Early) Online Sale
Stakes winners in foal to Wootton Bassett and Snitzel, along with a significant number of young, well-bred racing and breeding prospects headline another intriguing catalogue for the Inglis Digital June (Early) Online Sale.
North Pacific 2YO Ready to Win
Byerley Park trainer Steven Cole will head to Ellerslie with a quartet of runners on Saturday, and he is particularly upbeat about the chances of Pacific Breeze in the Network Visuals 1200.
Sires With Winners - Friday June 6
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday that featured some interesting winners including stakes-placed filly Horseshoe Hill, a couple of unraced youngsters by Zoustar and the highest priced yearling by Prague.
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 5
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 Queensland Oaks
Unbeaten this preparation, Philia will be looking to emulate her half-sister Duais in winning the $1million Group I BRC Queensland Oaks (2200m) on Saturday, but a swarm of up and comers are nipping at her heels, so who are they?
New Winner for Bivouac
Godolphin have been  enjoying a winning run with their late season juveniles and it continued at Geelong on Thursday where Bivouac gelding Loving opened his account.
Inglis Ready 2 Race Entries Open
Entries for the Inglis Ready2Race Sale – Australasia’s most progressive 2YO Sale – are now open.
A Passion That Lasts a Lifetime
A passion for pedigrees and thoroughbreds is often one that lasts a lifetime and so it has been for one of the co-breeders of Bravery, who contacted me this week following our earlier and very well read story on current 2YO star Cool Archie.
Another Day, Another Stakes-Winner for Wootton Bassett
A homebred for Marc Chan, quality Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Green Impact closed out his juvenile season winning the Group II Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown and he bounced back into the winner’s list at the same venue overnight.