Maximum Security’s connections feel sting of Kentucky Derby disqualification

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Jockey Luis Saez wiped tears from his eyes as he trudged from the sloppy Churchill Downs main track through the tunnel on the way back to the jockey’s room. The feeling of elation after having finished first in the Kentucky Derby had vanished.

“I can’t believe they did it,” said Saez, referring to the stewards’ decision to disqualify Maximum Security from first and place him 17th in Saturday’s 145th Kentucky Derby. “Man, I don’t think I bothered anybody like that. I don’t know what to tell you.”

Jason Servis, the trainer of Maximum Security, was still in a state of shock.

“It hasn’t hit me yet, but I’m sure it’s going to affect me for a long time,” Servis said.

Gary West, who along with his wife, Mary, own Maximum Security, said he knew 15 minutes into what was, by his count, a 23-minute inquiry, that he was not going to go down in Derby lore – at least the way he hoped.

“I knew after 15 minutes he was going to come down,” Gary West said. “I didn’t know for sure, but I had a pretty good inclination. In a big race like this, I’m hoping it takes something pretty major to take the horse down. I’d be really disappointed in the stewards if it was a minor infraction in a race like this.”

In the 145-year history of the Kentucky Derby, this was the first time the race was decided by a stewards’ decision about an incident that occurred during the race.

Maximum Security, the 9-2 second choice after being favored most of the day, was placed 17th because the stewards determined he had bothered two horses, including Long Range Toddy, who finished 17th. War of Will, the other horse the stewards deemed impacted, finished eighth. He was moved up to seventh.

Maximum Security, who came into the Kentucky Derby undefeated, was on the lead under Saez, maintaining about a three-quarter-length advantage over Long Range Toddy through six furlongs in 1:12.50. Around the turn, it appeared Maximum Security was opening up that margin on Long Range Toddy.

At the five-sixteenths pole, Maximum Security came out a path or two, seemingly impacted by the noise from the crowd, according to Saez.

War of Will, who had been tugging his rider Tyler Gaffalione hard while in third position in behind Maximum Security, checked. Long Range Toddy, who appeared to be backing up after stalking the pace under Jon Court, also steadied sharply.

Saez said his horse lost position for a few strides, but when Code of Honor came up to his inside, Maximum Security re-engaged and would go on to finish first by 1 3/4 lengths over Country House, a 65-1 longshot.

Then track announcer Travis Stone announced there was a claim of foul. Flavien Prat, who finished second on Country House and who would later say his horse was slightly bothered, put a hold on the race.

Then the waiting began. The countless replays on the infield board. The longer it went on, the more worried Saez and Servis became. They stood together before a pack of cameras. Then, Servis went to check on his horse.

Saez, the only rider in the race with clean pants as he was on the lead, folded his arms and looked down. Ultimately, the decision was announced that he had been disqualified and Saez walked back to the room, no garland of roses draped over his horse. No celebration.

Meanwhile, Servis was chased by an NBC camera crew and other reporters.

Servis was still not sure the correct call was made.

“He ducked out I thought a little bit,” Servis said. “I really got to watch it” again.

Servis said his father was a state steward for 35 years “so I always heard that side of it.”

“They have a job to do, and I’m sure they felt that’s what they needed to do.”

Diplomatically, West then tried to sum up what the last, by his count, 23 minutes felt like.

“You think you win the Kentucky Derby and then you don’t 23 minutes later, it’s not the best feeling in the world,” he said. “We’ll get up tomorrow morning, the sun will come up, and everything will be fine.”