Ditto on the empathy for Maximum Security, Luis Saez, Mr. Servis and the Wests. Not the most cuddly bunch of riffraff's but their horse has been nothing but a good boy, even if he's green, he's still learning and should get better if he (hopefully) stays sound.

Furthermore, his rider Luis has already had to deal with heavy life stuff like his baby bro Juan Saez passing after his horse fell at Indiana Grand. 17yo kid was a decent rider just getting started around these circuits, but now lay prone on the track on a mid-October night, dead before he could drink. That's enough to mess with any 27yo person but then also realize he had to deal with the vitriol and absurd accusations about buzzers and Will Take Charge up at Saratoga.

I just have tons of respect for how Luis has persevered and refocused, and to take this type of win away from a young man like him is soul-crushing. Here's hoping Luis has the wherewithal to keep on-keepin on. But that's just my opinion... Servis just seems like a crabby Grandpa who wants to be left alone so he can enjoy his horses and train sets while he can.

It was wrong to take that feeling of joy away from the connections from his groom to Mr. West, and that's my biggest issue with the DQ. I can't sympathize with folks who so capriciously, meekly, and messily ignored the heft of the event and the lives that would change following their stewards decisions, and, accordingly after 22mins, as Indiana Jones would say, they "chose poorly". :(

Enough downer talk--just for comparison, here's the 2011 BC Mile [youtu.be] staring Goldikova at CD. #spoileralert there's quite the late move she makes, and I bet you'll NEVER guess how it was handled?😉