With some controversy, the 2019 Kentucky Derby took place this past Saturday on May 4. Check out a recap of what happened in the Run for the Roses! And be sure to check out the latest 2019 Preakness Stakes odds now that the Derby is over.
2019 Kentucky Derby Recap
Maximum Security Takes the Lead from the Get Go
As soon as the gates opened, horse racing fans knew that Florida Derby winner Maximum Security meant business. The New Year’s Day sired 3-year-old took the lead from the outset, running the first quarter-mile in 22.5.
Incident Around the Turn
Once on the lead, jockey Luis Saez had him in cruise control. Maximum Security never appeared to be in any danger of not winning, but then something crazy happened around the turn. Saez, sitting chilly aboard his horse, felt Maximum Security suddenly change lanes. He went about 3 lanes to the right and appeared to impede War of Will’s momentum.
To evade Maximum Security, War of Will hit Long Range Toddy who hit Bode Express. All three of those horses faded in the stretch.
Maximum Security Wins Easily
In the stretch, Maximum Security pulled away for an easy victory. The second place finisher, Country House, ran unimpeded to the finish line to get up for second while the third place finisher, Code of Honor, ran up the rail to finish third.
Maximum Security’s win was so obvious that everyone believed the only question left was whether the 9/2 second choice Derby shot could go on to win the Triple Crown. However, that wasn’t the case.
Country House Jockey Flavien Prat Lodges Objection
Country House’s jockey, Flavien Prat, lodged an objection. Although he wasn’t involved in the incident around the turn, Prat and his mount had finished second. Prat wasn’t the only jockey that objected. So did Jon Court who had been aboard Long Range Toddy. Tyler Gaffalione aboard War of Will didn’t lodge an objection.
When jockey’s lodge objections they ask stewards in the replay booth to take another look at the race. That’s what happened in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Often, stewards will flash the inquiry sign if they’ve seen anything in the race that requires a second look.
In this case, the stewards didn’t do that. But, because two jockey had lodged objections, they had to look at the race to determine if a change was required.
After 18 Minutes, Maximum Security Goes Down, Country House Goes Up
It took the stewards a while to make a final decision. When they had finally ruled, those who thought they had an easy Derby winner in Maximum Security had to tear up their tickets while those who had put a few bucks on 65/1 shot Country House jumped for joy.
The stewards ruled that Maximum Security had interfered with War of Will, causing a chain reaction that could have led to disaster. Even though disaster hadn’t struck, the stewards said that Maximum Security’s actions required them to take him down and place him seventeenth, behind Long Range Toddy who ended up eighteenth.
That moved Country House up to the winner’s circle, Code of Honor moved up to second, and Tacitus moved up to third. See below for the final results and payouts for the 2019 Kentucky Derby.
- Country House Win-$132.40, Place-$56.60, Show-$24.60
- Code of Honor Place-$15.20, Show-$9.80
- Tacitus Show-$5.60
