“Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and sometimes the blues get a hold of you. Ahh, just when you thought you had made it.” — Carole King

As A great Yogi once said, “it ain’t over till it’s over.” Maximum Security, who won all four of his starts leading into the Kentucky Derby, is still undefeated … after officially finishing 17th. And that’s just not right.

Under rider Luis Saez the Jason Servis-trained colt broke quickly as expected. He ran the first quarter-mile in a taxing 22.1 seconds to make the lead over a rain soaked course. I bet him, and I thought my ticket would be ripped up somewhere at the top of the stretch. I was wrong … but I was right.

His secure lead gone, they turned for home and he made light contact with War Of Will to his outside, then Code Of Honor to his inside. I saw it. Didn’t think much of it. I’ve seen worse in the fifth race at Aqueduct on a 10-degree day in February. Again, I thought he’d fold the tent. But Saez set him down and he splashed home to win by 1 ³/₄ lengths! Victory is ours!

With Servis and Saez celebrating, the expected “inquiry/objection” flashed. “Leave it to the racing gods,” a confident Servis said. I’m thinking no way he comes down, not in the $3 million Derby.

As the result became less official with each passing minute, the crowd of 150,729 were stunned witnesses to the first race-day disqualification in the race’s 145 year history. Yes, it waited for a year where I had the winner.

The winner — 65-1 shot Country House, who finished second — provided Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott with his first Derby victory.

“If this was a maiden claimer on a weekday the winner would come down,” Mott said. “It’s bittersweet … but I’m glad they put our number up.”

My number went in the shredder. Country House put me once again where this sport always has a vacancy, the Heartbreak Hotel.