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Country House, which won Saturday in the Kentucky Derby after the disqualification of Maximum Security, the first winner, will not participate in the Preakness Stakes May 18 in Baltimore, ending a third triple crown in five years.
Coach Bill Mott told the Daily Racing Form Tuesday that Country House had developed a cough and was acting "like he was going to get sick".
"It's probably a small viral case," Mott told the horse racing newspaper. "Hopefully this does not escalate in any serious way.Usually, when an event like this occurs, a horse misses a few weeks of training.It is not seriously ill at the moment. But it shows that there is something going on. "
Luis Saez, in pink silk, crosses the finish line with maximum safety against Flavien Prat, in yellow silk, at Country House, in Saturday's Kentucky Derby. (AP Photo / Matt Slocum)
The decision made by Mott means that none of the two horses at the center of the oddest finish of the Kentucky Derby during its 145-year history will participate in the return match of the Triple Crown race at the Pimlico Race Course . Country House is also the first winner of the Kentucky Derby not to participate in Preakness since Grindstone in 1996.
Grindstone, who ended up with bursts of bone in one of his knees, was the first Derby winner to retire immediately after this race since Bubbling Over in 1926.
Maximum safety crossed the finish line at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, a quarter and three lengths ahead of Country House. However, race stewards ruled that maximum safety had hampered several horses and disqualified her.
Gary West, owner of Maximum Security, said Monday that his horse would not run into Preakness, telling the Associated Press that it was "really not necessary, having not the opportunity to run for the Triple Crown, to race on horseback in two weeks ".
"The horse will be better in the long run with the others," added West, "he had a very good race and a very tough race on Saturday."
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West has announced that maximum safety will pass a few hours before the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission dismisses his call for horse disqualification. West said that such a result was expected and he is committed to filing a complaint against the stewards' decision.
The Preakness takes place two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, which requires a quick turnaround. The third stage of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, will take place on June 8 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.
American Pharoah and Justify won the Triple Crowns in 2015 and 2018, respectively. The American Pharoah ended a 37-year winless Triple Crown race at Affirmed, winner of three races in 1978.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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