Odds Heavily Against Maximum Security Winning Its Kentucky Derby Appeal
- Saturday’s Kentucky Derby ended with great controversy
- Maximum Security is appealing its disqualification, which resulted in Country House being declared the winner
- Odds indicate the appeal is likely to fail
The first 144 Kentucky Derby’s mostly went to script, at least by comparison. The horse who crossed the finish line first won the roses. On Saturday, it wasn’t so simple.
Maximum Security was the best horse from the instant the gates opened until reaching the end. However, he got spooked, jumped a small puddle, or strategically veered to his right in the stretch and interfered with War of Will, who perhaps could have finished sixth or seventh instead of eighth.
For that infraction, Maximum Security was disqualified, and second-place finisher Country House was awarded the roses.
The first Saturday in May is more than a century old American tradition. However, lawsuits are an even bigger part of U.S. culture. While no litigation is pending, Maximum Security owners Gary and Mary West are appealing the decision to be disqualified.
Sportsbooks have a line on the appeal, God bless them.
Will Maximum Security win his appeal and be declared Kentucky Derby champion?
| Will Maximum Security win its Kentucky Derby appeal? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | +600 |
| No | -1200 |
*Odds taken 05/06/19
Might the appeal work?
The Wests, trainer Jason Servis, and jockey Luis Saez have the right to be angry, disappointed, and frustrated. They had the best horse on Saturday and he didn’t win.
However, it is inarguable that Maximum Security shifted out two or three lanes as the horses turned for home, for whatever reason. While there is no way to know whether the horses he interfered with would have improved their final placing, it certainly is possible that they would have.
The appeal is frivolous. It is about all the connections can do, but it has no merit.
Sure, there is an argument for swallowing the whistle at the end of the game, but once the foul has been called, the free throws are forthcoming. There is no reason to believe any change is in the cards.
The stewards spent 22 minutes compiling evidence, talking to the principals, and watching a million different angles of the infraction. They made their ruling. It is not going to be changed after the event.
Dave Friedman has covered professional and college sports for two decades. From ESPN to the Associated Press, Regional Sports Networks, Metro Networks, and many local outlets, he has written about and broadcast major and minor events throughout the country.
