Country House (USA)
May 8, 2016 – Living
Lookin At Lucky (USA) x Quake Lake (USA), by War Chant (USA)
Family 9-f
May 8, 2016 – Living
Lookin At Lucky (USA) x Quake Lake (USA), by War Chant (USA)
Family 9-f
Country House had ability, but his reputation will forever lie in the shadow of Maximum Security, who was clearly much the best runner in the 2019 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (USA-G1) but was disqualified for interference committed on on the final turn as he veered out. Country House was involved but only minimally, and most observers viewed his elevation from the clear second-place finisher to the official winner of the Kentucky Derby as a stroke of pure luck. He did not get any further opportunities to display his ability against the best of his crop in a truly run race as he was forced to the sidelines by illness and eventually retired without racing again after developing laminitis. He recovered to go to stud but has been facing an uphill battle in the American commercial market.
Race record
7 starts, 2 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$2,120,175
2019:
Assessments
Earned a rating of 118 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2019 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, 10 pounds below co-highweights Enable (the 2019 European Horse of the Year; a 5-year-old mare), 5-year-old Crystal Ocean (the European highweight or co-highweight older male from 9.5-14 furlongs), and 5-year-old Waldgeist (the European co-highweight older male over 11-14 furlongs). Country House’s rating was 4 pounds below the top 3-year-old males on dirt, 2019 American champion 3-year-old male Maximum Security and multiple Grade 1 winner Code of Honor.
As an individual
A ruggedly made chestnut horse, Country House is reasonably correct and balanced. On the track, he typically closed from off the pace. He was still several days from his actual third birthday when he ran in the Kentucky Derby and according to trainer Bill Mott was still growing and maturing.
As a stallion
Country House entered stud in 2020. His first foal, a colt out of the City Zip mare American Values, was bred by Maury Shields, the wife of his late breeder, and arrived on January 25, 2021.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Country House was bred by Joseph V. Shields, Jr., and started his racing career in Shields’ colors. After Shields died in October 2018, Country House raced for his wife Maury, and his nephew, Guinness McFadden. After the colt’s third start, LNJ Foxwoods (Larry, Nanci, and Jaime Roth) bought into him. He was trained by Bill Mott and was ridden in the Kentucky Derby by Flavien Pratt. He entered stud in 2020 in Kentucky at Darby Dan Farm.
Pedigree notes
Country House is inbred 4x3 to three-time American champion sire Danzig, 3x5x5 to two-time American champion sire Mr. Prospector, 4x4 to the great Canadian matron No Class, and 5x4x5 to Danzig’s sire, the great international sire Northern Dancer. He is a half brother to 2019 Gallorette Stakes (USA-G3) winner Mitchell Road (by English Channel).
Country House is out of Quake Lake, a winning half sister to Breaking Lucky (by Lookin At Lucky), who won the 2015 Prince of Wales Stakes (the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown) and the 2016 Seagram Cup Stakes (CAN-G3). Quake Lake is also a half sister to Double Guns Girl (by Langfuhr), dam of Canadian restricted stakes winner Gun Society (by Society’s Chairman).
Quake Lake and her siblings are out of Grade 1-placed Shooting Party (by Sky Classic), whose half sister Arroyo Cottage (by Dynaformer) is the dam of stakes winner Arcata (by Wagon Limit). Shooting Party is also a half sister to Happily (by Belong to Me), dam of Venezuelan listed stakes winner Isaias Forever (by Corinthian). The next dam in Country House’s tail-female line is restricted stakes winner Ayanka (by multiple Grade 1 winner Jade Hunter, by Mr. Prospector); produced from Al’s Charm (by Al Hattab x Like a Charm and thus a full sister to Grade 3 winner Herecomesthebride), Ayanka is a half sister to Strawberry’s Charm (by Strawberry Road), dam of multiple stakes winner Strawberry Morn (by Travelling Victor).
Books and media
An audiovisual essay written and narrated by NBC Sports's Tim Leyden on the 2019 Kentucky Derby and its aftermath can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-riQFAnhBU.
Fun facts
Last updated: August 10, 2024
Race record
7 starts, 2 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$2,120,175
2019:
- Won Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs; by disqualification)
- 2nd Risen Star Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
- 3rd Arkansas Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Oaklawn Park)
Assessments
Earned a rating of 118 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2019 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, 10 pounds below co-highweights Enable (the 2019 European Horse of the Year; a 5-year-old mare), 5-year-old Crystal Ocean (the European highweight or co-highweight older male from 9.5-14 furlongs), and 5-year-old Waldgeist (the European co-highweight older male over 11-14 furlongs). Country House’s rating was 4 pounds below the top 3-year-old males on dirt, 2019 American champion 3-year-old male Maximum Security and multiple Grade 1 winner Code of Honor.
As an individual
A ruggedly made chestnut horse, Country House is reasonably correct and balanced. On the track, he typically closed from off the pace. He was still several days from his actual third birthday when he ran in the Kentucky Derby and according to trainer Bill Mott was still growing and maturing.
As a stallion
Country House entered stud in 2020. His first foal, a colt out of the City Zip mare American Values, was bred by Maury Shields, the wife of his late breeder, and arrived on January 25, 2021.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Country House was bred by Joseph V. Shields, Jr., and started his racing career in Shields’ colors. After Shields died in October 2018, Country House raced for his wife Maury, and his nephew, Guinness McFadden. After the colt’s third start, LNJ Foxwoods (Larry, Nanci, and Jaime Roth) bought into him. He was trained by Bill Mott and was ridden in the Kentucky Derby by Flavien Pratt. He entered stud in 2020 in Kentucky at Darby Dan Farm.
Pedigree notes
Country House is inbred 4x3 to three-time American champion sire Danzig, 3x5x5 to two-time American champion sire Mr. Prospector, 4x4 to the great Canadian matron No Class, and 5x4x5 to Danzig’s sire, the great international sire Northern Dancer. He is a half brother to 2019 Gallorette Stakes (USA-G3) winner Mitchell Road (by English Channel).
Country House is out of Quake Lake, a winning half sister to Breaking Lucky (by Lookin At Lucky), who won the 2015 Prince of Wales Stakes (the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown) and the 2016 Seagram Cup Stakes (CAN-G3). Quake Lake is also a half sister to Double Guns Girl (by Langfuhr), dam of Canadian restricted stakes winner Gun Society (by Society’s Chairman).
Quake Lake and her siblings are out of Grade 1-placed Shooting Party (by Sky Classic), whose half sister Arroyo Cottage (by Dynaformer) is the dam of stakes winner Arcata (by Wagon Limit). Shooting Party is also a half sister to Happily (by Belong to Me), dam of Venezuelan listed stakes winner Isaias Forever (by Corinthian). The next dam in Country House’s tail-female line is restricted stakes winner Ayanka (by multiple Grade 1 winner Jade Hunter, by Mr. Prospector); produced from Al’s Charm (by Al Hattab x Like a Charm and thus a full sister to Grade 3 winner Herecomesthebride), Ayanka is a half sister to Strawberry’s Charm (by Strawberry Road), dam of multiple stakes winner Strawberry Morn (by Travelling Victor).
Books and media
An audiovisual essay written and narrated by NBC Sports's Tim Leyden on the 2019 Kentucky Derby and its aftermath can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-riQFAnhBU.
Fun facts
- Country House was raised on a nurse mare as his dam, Quake Lake, died not long after his birth.
- Following the finish of the 2019 Kentucky Derby, the Derby winner’s wreath was draped over Maximum Security before the “Inquiry” sign went up. The stewards’ decision ended up taking close to 23 minutes, and while the wreath was removed from Maximum Security’s shoulders, he ended up wearing the roses longer than Country House did once the disqualification was announced.
- Country House was the first Kentucky Derby winner to be elevated to the win by a disqualification for an on-track foul. Forward Pass, the only previous horse to win by disqualification, inherited the Derby win in 1968 after first-place finisher Dancer’s Image was disqualified for a drug positive.
Last updated: August 10, 2024