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SPORTS Monday 6 May 2019

Maximum Security's Preakness status unclear after Derby DQ

By GARY B. GRAVES rity was ultimately placed
AP Sports Writer 17th of 19 horses after start-
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The ing as the 9-2 second bet-
next stop in the chase ting choice, ending his
for the Triple Crown is the four-race winning streak.
Preakness, though both Stewards cited a section
Maximum Security and of the rule that calls for dis-
Country House remain non- qualification if "a leading
committal for the May 18 horse or any other horse
race following Maximum in a race swerves or is rid-
Security's disqualification den to either side so as to
from the Kentucky Derby. interfere with, intimidate, or
Owner Gary West said Sun- impede any other horse or
day he is unsure whether to jockey."
enter Maximum Security in Chief steward Barbara Bor-
the Preakness as he pon- den said in a news con-
ders appealing the historic ference that she and two
decision. other stewards interviewed
West also said he realizes riders and studied video re-
the appeals process could plays of the incident during
extend well beyond the a 22-minute review after
upcoming race at Pimlico the finish. The stewards did
in Baltimore. And with Ken- not take questions from re-
tucky racing stewards' rul- porters.
ing that Maximum Security West said the earliest he
interfered with other horses could see the stewards'
that led to his disqualifica- video evidence would be
tion, there might not be a Thursday, which could de-
point to racing the colt in termine if he files an appeal Luis Saez riding Maximum Security, second from right, goes around turn four with Flavien Prat riding
Country House, left, Tyler Gaffalione riding War of Will and John Velazquez riding Code of Honor,
the Triple Crown series' mid- in a process he was still try- right, during the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May
dle jewel. ing to understand. 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky.
"When you're not going for "We wanted to have the Associated Press
the Triple Crown, some- stewards explain to us what
times it doesn't make sense they saw and show us on President Donald Trump to the Preakness will be on Preakness to Laurel Race
to wheel the horse back in their video the pictures of blasted Maximum Secu- what's happening off the Course.
two weeks," West said in a exactly what they saw, and rity's disqualification, blam- track. And the best story on the
phone interview with The they refused to allow us to ing the Derby outcome on A scary spill for a filly and track may not materialize:
Associated Press. do that," he said. "political correctness." jockey opened Friday's a Maximum Security-Coun-
"If there's going to be an "That was really pretty bush "The Kentucky Derby deci- Kentucky Oaks for fillies, try House rematch.
appeal it will almost cer- league, because there is sion was not a good one," and winner Serengeti Em- Country House trainer Bill
tainly be before the Preak- no rule that they can't show Trump tweeted Sunday. "It press won her first start Mott said the colt was in
ness, but appeals histori- the film to the owner and was a rough and tumble since pulling up in her previ- good shape after the Der-
cally take some time to sort trainer that got disquali- race on a wet and sloppy ous race because of exter- by but remained noncom-
out. Win, lose or draw, we're fied for the first time in the track, actually, a beautiful nal bleeding. That followed mittal about the 1 1/8-mile
not going to know the out- history of the Kentucky Der- thing to watch. medication and safety Preakness, which is shorter
come of that until probably by other than they aren't "Only in these days of politi- reforms by the industry af- than the Derby. It would
months, if not years, down working today, or Monday, cal correctness could such ter the deaths of 23 horses mark his fourth race in eight
the road." or Tuesday or Wednesday." an overturn occur. The best over three months at Santa weeks if he runs.
Maximum Security was first The only other disqualifica- horse did NOT win the Ken- Anita. "It may compromise his
to finish Saturday's muddy tion in the Derby occurred tucky Derby — not even Now racing moves to the chances a bit and it's not
Derby before becoming long after the race in 1968. close!" Preakness and Pimlico, a normal situation to run so
the marquee race's first First-place finisher Dancer's The Derby finish will be de- where nearly 6,700 seats at often," Mott said. "But the
winner to be disqualified Image tested positive for bated for some time, and the dilapidated track have Triple Crown is not a normal
for interference . Stewards a prohibited medication, that's not good for the be- been deemed unsafe and situation."
elevated runner-up Coun- and Kentucky state racing leaguered sport. will be unavailable. The West also declared Maxi-
try House, a 65-1 long shot, officials ordered the purse The lead-up to Triple Crown Canada-based Stronach mum Security fine but will
to the winner's circle after money to be redistributed. season and the week at Group that owns Pimlico monitor him the next few
determining that Maximum Forward Pass got the win- Churchill Downs was not and Santa Anita has also days.
Security impeded his path ner's share. A subsequent what horse racing officials clashed with Baltimore of- "The revenge motive
and two others' exiting the court challenge upheld the had hoped for. And now, ficials over concerns that doesn't even enter into my
final turn. Maximum Secu- stewards' decision. the focus during the run-up ownership may move the mind," West said. q