Country House (horse)

Last updated

Country House
Sire Lookin at Lucky
Grandsire Smart Strike
DamQuake Lake
Damsire War Chant
Sex Colt
FoaledMay 8, 2016
Country United States
Color Chestnut
BreederJ. V. Shields, Jr.
OwnerShields, Jr., Mrs. J. V., McFadden, Jr., E. J. M. and LNJ Foxwoods
Trainer Bill Mott
Record7: 2–2–1
Earnings$2,120,175
Major wins
Triple Crown classic race wins:
Kentucky Derby (2019)

Country House (foaled May 8, 2016) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2019 Kentucky Derby after the disqualification of Maximum Security.

Contents

Country House's win came as result of an objection call from jockey Flavien Prat. [1] Even though Maximum Security crossed the finish line before Country House, Maximum Security was disqualified for interference with several horses and causing a near-spill. At odds of 65–1, Country House had the third highest odds of any Kentucky Derby winner, after Donerail in 1913 and Rich Strike in 2022. [2]

Background

Country House is a chestnut colt bred in Kentucky by Joseph V. Shields Jr. He was sired by Lookin at Lucky, the winner of the 2010 Preakness Stakes. [3] Lookin at Lucky first entered stud as a four-year-old in 2011 and since then has resided at Ashford Stud in Kentucky. He is also the sire of Accelerate, the 2018 American Champion Older Dirt Male Horse, Peter Pan Stakes winner Madefromlucky, and 2017 Kentucky Derby runner-up Lookin at Lee. [4]

Country House's dam Quake Lake, a daughter of War Chant, was an allowance winner who won two of her six races. [5] She is a half sister to Prince of Wales Stakes winner Breaking Lucky, who was also sired by Lookin at Lucky and is therefore a close relative of Country House. [6]

Country House was foaled at Three Chimneys Farm on May 8, 2016. Quake Lake died shortly after giving birth to him, and so he was raised by a nurse mare. He moved to Lane's End Farm as a weanling to prepare for sale as a yearling. Due to his late birth date, he needed more time to develop physically, but was "always a correct, balanced and athletic individual" according to Andy Howard, the assistant yearling manager at Lane's End. Country House was entered in the 2017 Keeneland September yearling sale because owner Shields usually sold his yearling colts. However, he was withdrawn from the sale and kept. [6]

Original owner Joseph Shields died in October 2018, shortly after Country House's first race, and Country House's ownership was taken over by Shields' wife, Maury, and his nephew, Guinness McFadden. [6] Country House was trained by William I. Mott. [7]

Racing career

Country House's first race was on turf at Belmont Park on October 6, 2018, in which he was never a factor. [6] Country House won his first race in his third start, a maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Park on January 17, 2019. [3] After his maiden victory, LNJ Foxwoods purchased an interest in him. [6] He finished 2nd at Risen Star, 3rd at the Arkansas Derby, and 4th at the Louisiana Derby.

In the Kentucky Derby on May 4, Maximum Security crossed the finish line first, but was judged to have impeded War of Will and Long Range Toddy when he swerved into their path, causing them to check strides. [8] As a result, Maximum Security was disqualified, and Country House, who had crossed the finish line second, was declared the winner. [9] [10]

On May 7, Country House was ruled out of running in the 2019 Preakness Stakes, due to his trainer detecting a virus. [11] This marked the first time the Kentucky Derby winner did not race in the Preakness Stakes since 1996.

Country House went on to develop a series of ailments that led to his retirement. According to a statement by McFadden's Blackwood Stables, he was first "diagnosed with proximal suspensory ligament desmitis on both front fetlocks" in June. Country House then experienced complications, leading to his hospitalization at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital on July 1 for an infection on his lower right fore. Because the right fore was not load bearing during his recovery from the infection, his left fore had to bear the extra weight and developed laminitis. Over the next several months, the laminitis was stabilized and Country House was then turned out to pasture. He is expected to fully recover but will never be able to race again. [12]

Stud career

Country House will begin his career as a stallion at Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, Kentucky in 2021 for a fee of $7,500.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Country House, chestnut colt, foaled May 8, 2016 [13]
Sire
Lookin At Lucky
bay 2007		 Smart Strike
b. 1992		 Mr Prospector
b. 1970		 Raise a Native
Gold Digger
Classy 'n Smart
b. 1981		 Smarten
No Class*
Private Feeling
b. 1999		Belong To Me
dkb/br. 1989		Danzig*
Belonging
Regal Feeling
b. 1986		Clever Trick
Sharp Belle
Dam
Quake Lake
gray or roan 2006		 War Chant
dkb/br. 1997		 Danzig*
b. 1977		 Northern Dancer
Pas de Nom
Hollywood Wildcat
dkb/br. 1990		 Kris S.
Miss Wildcatter
Shooting Party
gr/ro. 1998		 Sky Classic
ch. 1987		 Nijinsky
No Class*
Ayanka
gr. 1991		Jade Hunter
Al's Charm (Family 9-f)

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Cody, Benjamin (May 4, 2019). "Kentucky Derby 2019 results: Country House emerges with victory after Maximum Security disqualified". CBS Sports . Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  2. ↑ Koon, Anthony (May 4, 2019). "Country House Becomes Second Biggest Kentucky Derby Longshot Ever". Heavy.com. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Country House profile". Equibase. May 4, 2019. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Lookin At Lucky on Stallion Register Online". Stallion Register Online. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Quake Lake profile". Equibase. May 4, 2019. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Tales from the Crib: Country House". www.kentuckyderby.com. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  7. ↑ Moore, Josh (May 4, 2019). "Kentucky Derby trainer after unique win: They'll be talking about this for 'a long time.'". Lexington Herald-Leader . Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  8. ↑ Cody, Benjamin (May 4, 2019). "Kentucky Derby 2019 results: Country House emerges with victory after Maximum Security disqualified". CBS Sports . Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  9. ↑ Hammonds, Evan. "Country House Awarded the Kentucky Derby Via DQ". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  10. ↑ Layden, Tim. "Inside the historic decision that shocked the Kentucky Derby". SI.com. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  11. ↑ Mitchell, Eric (May 7, 2019). "Kentucky Derby Winner Country House to Miss Preakness with Illness". americasbestracing.net. Archived from the original on October 30, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Derby Winner Country House Retired Due to Laminitis". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Country House pedigree". Equineline. May 4, 2019. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
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