Country House, who in his final start won the 2019 Kentucky Derby via an unprecedented disqualification, will enter stud at Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, Ky., in 2021. Country House’s retirement was announced in February by his connections, after the son of Lookin At Lucky spent the second half of last year recovering from a battle with laminitis. Stallion plans were not yet finalized at that time, as the colt’s health had been the primary focus, and the 2020 breeding season was already underway. Country House, who was bred in Kentucky by the late J.V. Shields Jr., was campaigned by his widow, Maury Shields, her nephew, Guinness McFadden Jr., and the LNJ Foxwoods of Larry, Nanci, and Jaime Roth. The colt officially compiled a racing record of 2-2-1 from seven starts with earnings of $2,120,175. Country House, trained by Bill Mott, won a maiden special weight in January 2019 at Gulfstream Park, his third career start. He then earned his way into the Kentucky Derby by finishing second in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes to War of Will, the eventual Preakness Stakes winner; fourth in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby; and third in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby behind Omaha Beach and Improbable. In the Kentucky Derby, Country House and jockey Flavien Prat crossed the line 1 3/4 lengths behind Maximum Security in second. However, Maximum Security had veered out sharply near the five-sixteenths pole, impacting also-rans War of Will and Long Range Toddy, among others. Prat and Jon Court, aboard Long Range Toddy, both claimed foul, and after a review of more than 20 minutes, the stewards disqualified Maximum Security to 17th, making him the first horse ever to be disqualified for an in-race incident after crossing the line first in the Derby. Country House triggered a $132.40 win payout after his elevation. The week following the Derby, Mott said that Country House had developed a cough and seemed to be harboring a virus, ruling him out of the Preakness. The colt received an examination at the Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, and returned to light training at Churchill Downs, but his attitude and condition did not satisfy Mott. In mid-June, while accepting the engraved Kentucky Derby trophy in a ceremony at Churchill Downs, Mott reported that his Derby winner would receive turnout time at Blackwood, the training and rehabilitation facility co-owned by McFadden and Matt Hogan, and that he likely would not start again that year. Additional problems arose later that month. The colt was sent back to Rood and Riddle for an examination, to be followed up by turnout. Dr. Larry Bramlage diagnosed Country House with proximal suspensory ligament desmitis on both front fetlocks. The colt was re-admitted to Rood and Riddle on July 1, 2019, to be treated for a right front lower leg infection. Over the course of the next two weeks, the veterinary team was able to control the infection, but as a result of his non-weight bearing right front foot, Country House developed laminitis in his left front foot. He was later released to Blackwood for stall rest, and after the foot was stabilized by Dr. Scott Morrison, Country House was able to begin paddock turnout. He has now been relocated from Blackwood to Darby Dan. Country House’s introductory stud fee has been set at $7,500, and the young stallion prospect will be available via Darby Dan’s “Share the Upside” program. Breeders can earn a lifetime breeding right after paying an enrollment fee and producing foals by the stallion from his first two seasons, in 2021 and 2022, paying a reduced stud fee of $5,000. Their lifetime right kicks in in 2023. “We are excited to stand Country House and to provide breeders the opportunity to breed to a Kentucky Derby winner through our 'Share the Upside’ program,” Darby Dan stallion director Ryan Norton said in a release. “There is a lot to like about Country House, hailing from the influential Smart Strike sire line, and we encourage breeders to come out to the farm and see him.” Country House's sire, champion Lookin At Lucky, is in turn by the classic sire and sire of sires Smart Strike. Country House is a half-brother to graded stakes winner Mitchell Road and stakes winner Mr. Brix, and they are from the family of Canadian classic winner Breaking Lucky.