Country House (horse)

Country House (foaled May 8, 2016) is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2019 Kentucky Derby.

Country House
Sire	Lookin at Lucky
Grandsire	Smart Strike
Dam	Quake Lake
Damsire	War Chant
Sex	Colt
Foaled	May 8, 2016
Country	United States
Color	Chestnut
Breeder	J. V. Shields, Jr.
Owner	Shields, Jr., Mrs. J. V., McFadden, Jr., E. J. M. and LNJ Foxwoods
Trainer	Bill Mott
Record	7: 2–2–1
Earnings	$2,120,175
Major wins
Triple Crown classic race wins: Kentucky Derby (2019)

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 second highest odds of any Kentucky Derby winner, after Donerail in 1913.[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 However, he was withdrawn from the sale and kept.[6]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]

Further information: 2019 Kentucky Derby

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]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Country House, chestnut colt, foaled May 8, 2016[13]
† Dagger indicates inbreeding

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)

Country House is linebred 4 x 3 to Danzig, meaning this sire appears once in the fourth generation of the pedigree and once in the third generation. Country House is also linebred 4 x 4 to No Class, meaning this dam appears twice in the fourth generation of the pedigree.

See also

• Forward Pass (horse), declared winner of the 1968 Kentucky Derby following a disqualification

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. "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. "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. 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.