Request denied for appeal of Maximum Security’s Derby DQ
An appeal filed by the owner of Maximum Security, the horse that finished first in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday but was later disqualified for interference, was denied by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on Monday.
The appeal was filed by an attorney for Gary West, whose horse became the first winner to be disqualified for an on-track infraction.
The racing commission called the request “moot” because the decision to disqualify Maximum Security and install second-placed Country House as winner was not subject to appeal.
“The stewards unanimously disqualified Maximum Security following two objections lodged immediately after the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby and after a thorough review of the race replay,” the commission wrote in a letter. “That determination is not subject to an appeal.”
West said he did see Maximum Security, who led from nearly start to finish, move over several lanes but felt such contact was inevitable given the number of horses allowed to race in the Kentucky Derby, which usually features 20 horses but this year had 19 year after a late scratch.
“Churchill Downs, because they’re a greedy organization, has (20 horses) rather than 14 like you have in the Kentucky Oaks, the Breeders’ Cup, every other race in America,” said West. “Yes I saw the horse move out, but every Kentucky Derby, you could sit down two or three or four horses if you wanted to, because it’s like a rodeo out there.”
West said there would be no rematch with Country House when Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course hosts the Preakness Stakes.
“We are not going to run The Preakness,” said West. “There’s no Triple Crown on the line for us, and no reason to run a horse back in two weeks when you don’t have to.”
NASCAR
TRUEX JR. TURNS BACK CLOCK AT DOVER >> Twelve years ago, Martin Truex Jr. won his very first NASCAR Cup Series race. It came at Dover International Speedway and it came in a race that was pushed back a day from Sunday because of weather issues.
On Monday, Truex, the 2017 Monster Energy series champion, got his second victory of the 2019 season and it came at Dover after rain forced the postponement of Sunday’s race.
“Man, it feels incredible,” he said. “What a race car we had today.”
Truex, who started from the rear of the field in the Gander RV 400 after being issued a penalty for twice failing inspection on Sunday, led 132 of 400 laps in getting his second victory
in 11 starts for Joe Gibbs Racing.
It was the New Jersey native’s third win at Dover. He posted his first of the season at Richmond and also has two second-place finishes in 2019.
Alex Bowman followed up his runner-up finish at Talladega a week ago by finishing second at Dover’s “Monster Mile” — more than 9 seconds back.
Kyle Larson, who had crashed in three of his previous four races (the third of which saw him barrel-rolling on the last lap a week ago), finished third to pick up his first topfive of the season. Kevin Harvick finished fourth.
NFL
WALTER WOWS 49ERS >> Undrafted running back Austin Walter won himself a 49ers roster spot at last weekend’s rookie minicamp.
Walter, a Rice University all-purpose machine, wasn’t the only addition to the 49ers on Monday. Offensive lineman Willie Beavers was claimed off waivers from the Chicago Bears and journeyman linebacker LaRoy Reynolds signed a one-year deal.
Walter (5-foot-8) flashed speed and showed his versatility among the 40 players who auditioned along with the eight-man draft class. He joins a corps of running backs: Jerick McKinnon, Tevin Coleman, Matt Breida, Raheem Mostert and Jeffrey Wilson Jr. RAIDERS LOOK AT INCOGNITO >> Veteran offensive lineman Richie Incognito worked out for the Raiders at team headquarters on Monday, according to a source, and there’s mutual interest between the two sides. At 35 years old, Incognito is in “fantastic shape physically and mentally,” one source said.
Incognito has been in his fair share of headlines over the years. In August he was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct and criminal threats after an incident at an Arizona funeral home before his father’s funeral. He was suspended by the Dolphins in 2013 after being accused of bullying teammate Jonathan Martin, and he sat out the 2014 season.
• The Raiders traded kicker Eddy Piñeiro to the Bears for a conditional 2021 seventh-round pick, according to ESPN, which noted the Raiders only get the pick if Piñeiro is on the Bears’ active roster for five games this season..
• The Raiders signed former Nicholls State defensive tackle Ronald Ollie and former N.C. State punter AJ Cole III after their rookie minicamp tryouts this weekend. Ollie rose to fame because of his role on the inaugural season of Netflix’s popular show, “Last Chance U.”
MLS
TIMBERS ADD OFFENSE >> The Portland Timbers acquired forward Brian Fernandez from Liga MX side Necaxa as their designated player on Monday.
The reported transfer fee of $10 to $12 million would set a record for the MLS club. Fernandez, 24, has 18 goals and five assists in 32 appearance since joining Necaxa in 2018.