LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In the moments immediately following the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, trainer Bill Mott said his thoughts were of how well his colts Country House and Tacitus had run, and he figured they’d both be bound for the Belmont Stakes next. But nearly a half-hour later, the stewards at Churchill Downs promoted Country House to first on the disqualification of Maximum Security to 17th, making Country House the official winner of the 145th Derby. By Sunday morning, when he showed up at his barn here to check on Country House, Mott already was contemplating that there might have to be a change of those initial post-race plans to include for Country House the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 18. “Having the Derby winner, you’re pretty much forced to go to the Preakness,” Mott said. “When they crossed the wire, I was elated. He had run second. There was no need to feel pressure to go to the Preakness. They’re both very well suited to the Belmont. But we have to rethink that in terms of Country House. “You kind of have an obligation to go,” Mott added. “Everybody wants to see the Derby winner in the Preakness.” What has given Mott pause is that Country House, albeit a big, strong colt, has had a lot of racing in recent weeks just to get to the Derby. He was wheeled back in the Arkansas Derby three weeks ago, three weeks after the Louisiana Derby, to get enough points to run in the Derby. The Preakness would involve coming back for another race in just two weeks. Mott said Country House – as well as Tacitus, who finished fourth and then was promoted to third via the disqualification – had come out of the race well and would remain at Churchill Downs in coming days to be evaluated. Tacitus is definitely awaiting the Belmont. A firm decision regarding the Preakness for Country House will be made in coming days. He said Country House would go to Pimlico the week of the race if he runs. There will be no rematch in the Preakness.  Gary West, who owns Maximum Security with his wife, Mary, on said Sunday, “He ran really, really hard yesterday and not having a Triple Crown in play it probably doesn’t make any sense to push the horse when you don’t have to do it." Maximum Security was scheduled to arrive on Tuesday at Monmouth Park, where his trainer, Jason Servis, is based for the summer. The only other horses out of the Derby who as of Monday were being considered for the Preakness were War of Will, who initially crossed the wire eighth after being interfered with by Maximum Security nearing the quarter pole; Code of Honor, who finished third and then got moved up to second, and Improbable, originally fifth and then placed fourth. A large number of horses who did not run in the Derby are scheduled to go in the Preakness, including Alwaysmining, Anothertwistafate, Bourbon War, Laughing Fox, Owendale, Signalman, and Mr. Money, who won the Pat Day Mile on Saturday’s undercard. Maximum Security got a Beyer Speed Figure of 101 in the Derby. Country House got a 99. The disqualification of Maximum Security marked the second time a Derby winner had been removed from victory after the race but the first time it happened via a jockey objection immediately after the race. The other horse to be disqualified was Dancer’s Image in 1968, owing to a medication violation. Based on information gleaned from the stewards and track officials, Flavien Prat, aboard Country House, immediately after the race asked the outrider to put a hold on the race, a way of communicating to the stewards that he wished to claim foul. That information was conveyed by the stewards to track announcer Travis Stone and announced to the public. Subsequent to that, Jon Court, aboard Long Range Toddy, who crossed the wire 17th, also claimed foul. That was not announced to the public and was not known until stewards Barbara Borden, Tyler Picklesimer, and Butch Becraft  came to the media room two hours after the Derby, with Borden merely reading a statement regarding their decision while refusing to take questions. The connections of War of Will did not claim foul. Trainer Mark Casse said he and jockey Tyler Gaffalione briefly considered claiming foul but elected not to since it wouldn’t have gained them a spot in the top three. The stewards did not post the inquiry sign on their own. Casse said he believes stewards should post inquiries and not put riders in the position of claiming foul against their colleagues. “I would say if there was any mistake yesterday – and I have to say, I have the highest respect for the stewards – it was the inquiry sign should have gone up as soon as they passed the wire,” Casse said. “I was actually kind of surprised it wasn’t up.” Mott said he thought the stewards made the correct decision after their lengthy deliberation. “It was a difficult decision because it was the Kentucky Derby. I don’t think it was a difficult call if it was the first race on the card,” he said. Mott said he thought Maximum Security ducked out on his own, and that jockey Luis Saez did not ride carelessly. “I very strongly believe it was the horse,” Mott said. “Maybe something caught his eye and he ducked out a little. I’m sure Luis didn’t do that intentionally. He’s an aggressive rider but not a careless rider.” Mott said he felt “terrible that I have to apologize for winning.” “I don’t want to feel like we’re taking something that’s not justified,” Mott said. Mott said he believes the decision “shows the integrity of the sport,” adding the stewards “can’t let that go.” “This is a Kentucky Derby that’s going to be talked about for a long time,” he said. “Hopefully, Country House can come back and run well in the future.” – additional reporting by David Grening and Nicole Russo Potential Preakness Starters Horse Trainer Jockey Last Race Alwaysmining Kelly Rubley Daniel Centeno Tesio, 1st Anothertwistafate Blaine Wright Jose Ortiz Lexington, 2nd Bodexpress Gustavo Delgado undecided Ky. Derby, 13th Bourbon War Mark Hennig Irad Ortiz, Jr. Fla. Derby, 4th Improbable Bob Baffert Mike Smith Ky. Derby, 4th Laughing Fox Steve Asmussen Ricardo Santana, Jr. OP Invitational, 1st Mr. Money Brett Calhoun Gabriel Saez Pat Day Mile, 1st Owendale Brad Cox Florent Geroux Lexington, 2nd Signalman Kenny McPeek Brian Hernandez, Jr. Blue Grass, 3rd War of Will Mark Casse Tyler Gaffalione Ky. Derby, 7th