Owners sue in wake of historic DQ

Derby stewards’ ruling gets challenge in court

The owners of Maximum Security have sued the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and race stewards, seeking to reverse the horse’s disqualification for interference as Kentucky Derby winner and restoration of purse money.

The lawsuit filed by Gary and Mary West on Tuesday in U.S. District Court says that stewards relied on insubstantial evidence and questioned a “bizarre and unconstitutional” process before and after the disqualification. Maximum Security crossed the finish line first on May 4 before being disqualified and dropping to 17th for impeding the paths of several horses. Runner-up Country House, a 65-1 shot, was elevated to first.

The KHRC last week denied an appeal of the disqualification and said that the stewards’ decision wasn’t subject to appeal.

The lawsuit says that due process was denied along with the $1.86 million winner’s share of the $3 million purse, including $186,000 each for trainer Jason Servis and jockey Luis Saez.

Baffert has Preakness favorite: Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will seek his record-setting eighth Preakness victory Saturday with 5-2 morning line favorite Improbable, who will start from the No. 4 post in a field of 13 horses.

For the first time since 1951, the Preakness will not include the four horses that crossed the finish line first in the Kentucky Derby. Improbable finished fifth and was moved up to fourth following the Maximum Security’s disqualification.

It was the only time in six career races that Improbable failed to finish first or second.

War of Will, the second choice at 4-1, received the No. 1 post in Wednesday’s draw. It’s the same post position he had in the Kentucky Derby, when he finished eighth and was moved up to seventh.

Baffert and R.W. Walden, who saddled seven winners in the late 1800s, are currently tied atop the Preakness leaderboard.