SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2019 T O D A Y I N T H E T D N FINLEY: STEWARDS WERE RIGHT, BUT THE SYSTEM IS WRONG BRICKS AND MORTAR KEEPS STREAK GOING IN TURF CLASSIC MIA MISCHIEF GETS HER GI IN HUMANA DISTAFF MITOLE CONTINUES HIS ASCENT AT CHURCHILL DOWNS DIGITAL AGE CAPS BIG DAY FOR INVINCIBLE SPIRIT MR MONEY GETS THE CASH IN PAT DAY MILE I N T D N E U R O P E GUINEAS GLORY FOR MAGNA GRECIA SCAT DADDY DOUBLY REPRESENTED IN 1000 DE SOUSA SHINES ON COMMUNIQUE Click or tap here to go straight to TDN Europe/International PUBLISHER & CEO Sue Morris Finley @suefinley [email protected] V.P., INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS Gary King @garykingTDN [email protected] EDITORIAL [email protected] Editor-in-Chief Jessica Martini @JessMartiniTDN Managing Editor Sunday, May 5, 2019 Alan Carasso @EquinealTDN Senior Editor Steve Sherack @SteveSherackTDN Racing Editor Brian DiDonato @BDiDonatoTDN News and Features Editor Ben Massam @BMassamTDN Associate Editors Christie DeBernardis @CDeBernardisTDN Joe Bianca @JBiancaTDN ADVERTISING [email protected] Director of Advertising Alycia Borer Advertising Manager Lia Best Advertising Designer Amanda Crelin Advertising Assistants Alexa Reisfield Amie Morosco Advertising Assistant/Dir. Of Distribution Rachel McCaffrey Photographer/Photo Editor Sarah K. Andrew @SarahKAndrew [email protected] Country House (Lookin At Lucky) walks during a lengthy objection following Saturday’s Social Media Strategist GI Kentucky Derby. | Horsephotos Justina Severni Director of Customer Service NICODEMUS TAKES THE WESTCHESTER 21 Vicki Forbes Nicodemus became the newest graded winner for his top sire [email protected] Candy Ride (Arg) with a win in Belmont’s GIII Westchester S. Marketing Manager Alayna Cullen @AlaynaCullen ‘OMAHA’ HAS SUCCESSFUL THROAT SURGERY 24 Director of Information Technology Initial GI Kentucky Derby favorite Omaha Beach (War Front) Ray Villa underwent a successful throat surgery Friday and is doing well. [email protected] Bookkeeper TODAY’S GRADED STAKES Terry May EST Race Click for TV [email protected] 2:40a NHK Mile Cup-G1, TOK --------------- ------ WORLDWIDE INFORMATION 5:35a Queen Mother Memorial Cup H.-GIII, SHT HKJC PPs TVG International Editor 9:20a Charm Spirit Dahlia S.-G2, NMK --------------- TVG Kelsey Riley @kelseynrileyTDN 10:35a QIPCO 1000 Guineas S.-G1, NMK --------------- TVG [email protected] 10:40a Carl Jaspers-Preis (vormals Gerling-Preis)-G2, COL --------------- TVG European Editor Emma Berry 5:18p Ruffian S.-GII, BEL TJCIS PPs TVG [email protected] Associate International Editor Heather Anderson @HLAndersonTDN Newmarket Bureau, Cafe Racing Sean Cronin & Tom Frary [email protected] 60 Broad Street, Suite 100 Red Bank, NJ 07701 732-747-8060 | 732-747-8955 (fax) www.TheTDN.com TDN HEADLINE NEWS • PAGE 3 OF 25 • THETDN.COM SUNDAY • MAY 5, 2019 Maximum Security, off as the 9-2 second-choice, showed the COUNTRY HOUSE PLACED way through fractions of :22.31 and :46.62 over the sloppy, sealed going, and veered out sharply at the five-sixteenths pole, FIRST VIA DQ IN A KENTUCKY impeding War of Will (War Front), who reported home eighth. The incident caused a wild chain reaction, also impacting the DERBY FOR THE AGES aforementioned Long Range Roddy and eventual 14th-place finisher Bodexpress (Bodemeister). After a review of no less than 22 minutes, Maximum Security was disqualified for the infraction and placed 17th behind Long Range Toddy. This was the first disqualification in the 145-year history of the Kentucky Derby. Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}), who shot up the rail at the top of the stretch as Maximum Security wandered, was elevated from third to second. The stretch-running Tacitus (Tapit) was moved up a slot to third. Barbara Borden, Chief Steward for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, offered a brief, prepared statement while not taking questions from the large press corp on hand. AWe had a lengthy review of the race,@ she said. AWe interviewed the affected riders. We determined that [Maximum Country House in the Derby winner=s circle | Horsephotos Security] drifted out and impacted the progress of [War of Will], in turn, interfering with [Long Range Toddy] and [Bodexpress]. by Steve Sherack These horses were all affected, we thought, by the interference. LOUISVILLE, KY - On this First Saturday in May, it was the most Therefore, we unanimously determined to disqualify number exciting 22 minutes in sports. [Maximum Security] and place him behind [Long Range Toddy].@ Maximum Security (New Year=s Day), unbeaten in his first four Of the disqualification, Servis said, AI don't think it changed the career starts, including the GI Florida Derby, led the field every outcome of the race. It looks like something scared him in the step of the way beneath Luis Saez and crossed the wire 1 3/4 infield. I feel bad for the Wests. It looked like he ducked out a lengths clear of 65-1 longshot Country House (Lookin At Lucky) little bit. It hasn't sunk in yet, but it will.@ before a rain-soaked crowd of 150,729. Cont. p4 The celebration for owners Gary and Mary West and trainer Jason Servis was short lived, however, as the tote board began flashing Maximum Security=s number seven after a pair of jockey=s objections lodged by Country House=s rider Flavien Prat, as well as Jon Court, aboard Long Range Toddy (Take Charge Indy), who tired to 17th. Country House (center/yellow cap) | Wendy Wooley/EquiSport TDN HEADLINE NEWS • PAGE 4 OF 25 • THETDN.COM SUNDAY • MAY 5, 2019 Kentucky Derby cont. just put me in the race. He was traveling really well the entire Saez added, AI thought I never put anybody in danger. My race. And once I got him outside and I started to make my move, horse shied away from the noise of the crowd and may have well, Maximum Security, he kind of drift out and turned us ducked out a little." sideways. Like you say, the Country House, still eligible two horses inside of me had for a first-level allowance a lot more trouble than I did, race, paid $132.40 to win but it affected me anyway.@ and is the second longest It may not be exactly how shot to win the Kentucky he dreamt, but Country Derby. Donerail paid $184.90 House becomes the first in the 1913 Derby. Kentucky Derby winner in Placed in a good spot in a the brilliant career of Hall of mid-field ninth for most of Famer Bill Mott, who was the way, the chestnut began winless from eight previous to wind up on the far turn starters. He also saddled with a four-wide blitz and Tacitus. AYou know, as far as the miraculously stayed out of win goes, it's bittersweet,@ harm=s way from the fiasco. Mott said. AI would be lying if Country House looked a I said it was any different. winner as they straightened Country House & his connections in the winner=s circle | Coady You always want to win with for home, but Maximum a clean trip and have everybody recognize the horse as the very Security had plenty left in the tank and dug in gamely to cross good horse and for the great athlete that he is. I think, due to the wire first. the disqualification, probably some of that is diminished. But AWell, the entire trip was good,@ Prat said. AHe broke well and this is horse racing. Cont. p5 BREEDERS HAVE ALREADY BANKROLLED ** NEAR LY $3,500,000 IN INCENTIVE AWARDS * AND WITH 1,000+ STAKES RACES LEFT TO RUN IN 2019... ARE YOU IN IT TO IT? BREED at least 2 MARES at WinStar in 2019 to qualify to WIN. On a certain segment “ of our mares, [the WIN program] “does have a big influence. It’s an easy choice for us. –CHRISTIAN BLACK, Blackstone Farm BOOK TODAY to For more information visit: www.WinStarFarm.com/WINnetwork *Source: BloodHorse Stakes Calendar, N. America only, scheduled as of 3/08/19 * * Since November 2016, awarded in WinStar dollars applicable Big. for 1 year to any WinStar Stallion TDN HEADLINE NEWS • PAGE 5 OF 25 • THETDN.COM SUNDAY • MAY 5, 2019 Kentucky Derby cont. Mott continued, AAnd I know the stewards had a very, very difficult decision. I mean, I'm glad I wasn't in their shoes. But with that being said, I'm damn glad they put our number up.@ Country House, tabbed a >TDN Rising Star= after blowing the start and posting an eye-catching maiden win in his sophomore bow at Gulfstream Jan. 17, ran well in defeat in his next three attempts versus stakes company. Second-best behind War of Will after lugging in down the lane in the GII Risen Star S., he reported home fourth after a wide trip in the GII Louisiana Derby. He punched his ticket to Louisville with a third-place finish behind early Derby favorite Omaha Beach (War Front) in the GI Arkansas Derby. Country House was bred by the late longtime owner/breeder Joseph V. Shields Jr., who passed away last fall. Shields campaigned homebred Wagon Limit to a memorable victory over the great Skip Away in the 1998 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup. Country House is campaigned in partnership by Mrs. J.V. Shields, E.J. McFadden and LNJ Foxwoods. AWell, it's very exciting because Jerry bred the horse,@ Mrs. Shields said. AHe's a homebred. And I just thank Billy Mott for training him, Flavien for riding him, and for this incredible win. It will take a while for it to sink in.@ Cont. p6 Bill Mott & Mrs. Shields | Coady TDN HEADLINE NEWS • PAGE 6 OF 25 • THETDN.COM SUNDAY • MAY 5, 2019 Pedigree Notes: Country House is the first Triple Crown race winner and third North American Grade I winner for Lookin At Lucky, who was represented by champion and five-time Grade I victor Accelerate and GI Beldame S.