Former Medina resident felt joy and then disbelief with Kentucky Derby
A former Medina resident watched the Kentucky Derby Saturday afternoon with a lot of excitement, which quickly changed to disbelief.
Mary Lou Francisco, whose late husband Jack was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Medina for 30 years, is a cousin of trainer Jason Servis’ wife Natalie.
Jason Servis is trainer for Maximum Security, who finished first in the 145th Kentucky Derby, but was disqualified after a replay showed he crossed lanes.
Francisco, who now lives in Blowing Rock, N.C., was contacted by phone at the end of the race.
“Oh, my gosh,” was all Francisco could say when she initially heard Maximum Security had won $1.86 million. “This is very exciting.”
Then, when the win was overturned, Francisco couldn’t believe it.
“This is a disaster. It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “There goes my bet down the tubes.”
Francisco isn’t giving up on Maximum Security and said she’ll just have to wait for the Preakness.
Mary Lou and Jack left Medina in 1999, after he retired. She still returns to visit longtime friends in the area.
