Racing! We’ve got more stewards rulings

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we learn more about academic speech and what happened to Anoakia.

The stewards were busy last week. Let’s check in to see how they adjudicated folks at the track with details from the stewards’ minutes.

--Trainer Ben Cecil was fined $100 for failing to show up to saddle his horse Fig in the third race at Santa Anita on Sept. 29. Cecil said he was on the grounds and forgot to go to the paddock to saddle his horse in time. Fig won the race.

--Apprentice jockey Heriberto Figueroa was fined $50 for failure to appear at a hearing where he was fined $300 for hitting Here Is Happy when it was clearly out of contention in the eighth race on Sept. 30. The horse finished eighth in a field of eight.

--Exercise rider Jose Orozco was restored to good standing after he was suspended after he was seen drinking a beer while on a horse. Darin Scharer, Winner’s Foundation executive director, said Orozco completed 60-day in-house rehabilitation program. The original ruling was on Aug. 18 while at Del Mar. Orozco was also fined $100 for the drinking offense.

--Jockey Alonso Quinonez was fined $50 for showing up at a video review a day late. But, the stewards did not penalize him for allowing his horse, Bitter Ring Home, to drift in a first race on Sept. 30. The horse finished fourth.

--Owner Aaron Wellman was fined $500 for using profanity toward a racing official after his horse, Animosity, was declared a non-starter in the Del Mar Derby on Sept. 2. Wellman said that, “as a passionate horse owner he was caught up in the moment trying to protect his investments,” according to the stewards’ minutes. The stewards accepted his apology.

--Exercise rider Raul Armenta was suspended for 15 days for testing positive for methamphetamine. Outrider Cindy Ellet reported that he was acting strange on the track at Del Mar on Aug. 31. He submitted a voluntary urine sample, which tested positive. He will remain on probation while he has a CHRB license and must attend Winner’s Foundation meetings.

--Jockey’s Edwin Maldonado’s appeal on a three-day suspension was denied. He was originally suspended for his ride on Hackelton on April 13. His ride caused the horse to interfere in the stretch and was disqualified from first to second. He was scheduled to sit on a Saturday, Sunday and Thursday. His new penalty is for Oct. 19, 20 and, a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Steward Grant Baker dissented, instead voting for an exact day penalty.

--Trainer David Jacobson was fined $500 when his horse Bargaining tested positive for too much phenylbutazone, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The horse had a level of 2.73 ug/ml, when the allowable limit is 2.0 ug/ml. The horse finished fourth on July 25 at Santa Anita. Assistant trainer and son Howard Jacobson said his wife, Dr. April Mouro, is the stable’s veterinarian and he had no idea how the overage happened.

--Jockey Ruben Fuentes was suspended four days for his ride on Queen of the Track in the third race at Santa Anita on Oct. 5. The stewards believed he did not allow enough room on the first turn when he crossed over in front of other horses. Queen of the Track finished second. His suspension was set for Oct. 13, 14, 18 and 19. Because it was his second offense in 60 days he got four days instead of three. Steward Tom Ward dissented, believing the offense did not deserve a suspension.

--Trainer John F. Martin was fined $500 after his horse, Adios Cali, tested positive for too much betamethasone in her system after she finished third in the fourth race at Del Mar on Aug. 10. The filly had 62 pg/ml of the drug in her system. The allowable limit is 10 pg/ml. It is used to treat pain and inflammation. Martin said he was unaware of the seven-day withdrawal time of the drug. The filly had been injected in three joints five days before the test.

--Veterinarian Dr. Nicola Hardgrove was suspended 10 calendar days for filing a false veterinarian report. Her report on Aug. 31 showed she treated several horses at Los Alamitos between 2-3 p.m. However, she was in a hearing at Del Mar at 2:30 on that day. Hardgrove said she failed to check the report her employee filled out. She said she had taken on more clients since the retirement of Dr. Will Farmer and she had become overwhelmed. It was the eighth complaint against Hardgrove in the last three years.

--Jockeys Matt Garcia and Tiago Pereira were both fined $200 for getting into a physical altercation. After the second race on Sept. 2 at Del Mar, the jockey got into a verbal confrontation walking back to the jockeys’ room, where it escalated into a physical alteration. It was broken up by Matt Nichols, clerk of scales.

An explanation

On Sunday, I admitted to not understanding one of the findings of a study done by the University of Louisville into betting patterns as it related to handle. Here was the one that was too academic for me: “Handle exhibited positive yet diminishing returns to race quality where outlier major stakes race events are controlled for separately in the econometric model.”

A few of you wrote in to dumb it down for me. A consensus of the replies, and, yes, you all didn’t agree, is that handle trends higher in higher class races but the impact is less the further up the ladder you move. Also, that for the purpose of the study, unnamed big races (i.e. such as the equivalent of the Canadian Derby races) are disregarded in this survey.

So, there you have it.

Santa Anita review

My explanation of what Anoakia meant in Sunday’s newsletter left out one important fact, which was nicely pointed out by racing big shot and historian Alan Balch. The place is gone. Demolished. Or as Lily Von Shtupp would say, “kaput.” You can see it here at about the 4:15 mark. Thank you, Mel Brooks for your genius.

Anyway, back to Anoakia. In 1999, it was torn down to make room for some fancy-pants rich guy houses. So, no more.

As for the $75,000 Anoakia Stakes, for 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs, and it was a great stretch drive between the two favorites. In the end, Chasing Yesterday ran down It’sjustanillusion to win by a ½ length.

“She showed us that she’s a stakes winner now,” said winning trainer Bob Baffert. “She just went up in price. That was a nice filly that she beat today.”

Mike Smith rode both these fillies in their last start but Smith elected to go to It’sjustanillusion leaving the mount for Drayden Van Dyke.

“She’s nice,” said Van Dyke. “I’ll tell you what, that horse that ran second, It’sjustanillusion, hats off to her, she really made me run. That horse dug in but my filly dug in too and ran a helluva race. That was exciting. I thought I’d go by a little bit easier today but that other horse dug in.”

Chasing Yesterday paid $3.20, $2.20 and $2.10. Andyoushallreceive was third.

The winning filly is a half-sister to American Pharoah.

Big races review

A look at graded stakes or races worth more $100,000 or more on Sunday.

Woodbine (6): $100,000 Ruling Angel Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 6 ½ furlongs. Winner: Devine Mischief ($18.00)

Belmont (8): $100,000 Point of Entry Stakes, NY-breds 3 and up, 1 ½ miles on turf. Winner: Hello Don Julio ($4.20)

Final thought

Always looking to add more subscribers to this newsletter. Can’t beat the price. If you like it, tell someone. If you don’t like it, then you’re probably not reading this. Either way, send to a friend and just have them click here and sign up. Remember, it’s free, and all we need is your email, nothing more.

Any thoughts, you can reach me at johnacherwa@gmail.com. You can also feed my ego by following me on Twitter @jcherwa

Now, here is the star of the show, Sunday’s results. See you on Thursday.

DON'T STALK ME chased outside, came four wide into the stretch, angled out in upper stretch, bid four wide, took the lead past the eighth pole, inched away and drifted in and proved best under a left handed crack of the whip and steady handling then a snug hold late. GRINGO STAR had speed between horses then stalked outside a rival, swung four wide into the stretch, bid between horses, also drifted in then angled in late. COLORMEMONEY pressed the pace between horses, put a head in front in midstretch, could not match the top pair late but held third. ISEE IT IN HISEYES prompted the pace three deep to the stretch, was between foes nearing midstretch and was outfinished. OUR TIGER'S BOY bobbled slightly at the start, chased outside then off the rail, came three wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. SIR VALENTINE had good early speed and set a pressured pace inside, fought back in midstretch and weakened late. BOB'S ALL IN a step slow to begin, saved ground stalking the pace, came out a bit into the stretch and lacked the necessary late kick.

CYCLOMETRIC broke a bit slowly, stalked inside, waited a bit leaving the turn, came out and took a short lead outside a rival in midstretch, inched away and held gamely under some urging. BIG BARREL stalked between horses then a bit off the rail into the turn, split rivals on the turn, came three wide into the stretch and finished willingly. SIR EDDIE sped to the early lead, angled in and set a pressured pace a bit off the rail then inside into and on the turn, fought back in midstretch and held third. SIDEPOCKET ACTION prompted the pace three deep then outside a rival on the turn and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. BOUNCING AROUND broke a bit slowly, was between horses early then chased a bit off the rail, came out into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. AIR JOCKEY a bit slow to begin, stalked three deep, came four wide into the stretch and weakened. LEROY PEGASUS pressed the pace between horses, dropped back between foes on the turn, angled to the inside into the stretch and had little left for the drive.

IF YOU LIKE IT a bit washy at the gate, came off the rail on the first turn, chased outside a rival, ranged up three deep on the second turn to take the lead, kicked clear into the stretch, drifted out and proved best under urging. BRIDAL ARCH bobbled at the start, chased three deep, came four wide into the stretch, angled in some in midstretch, drifted inward in deep stretch and bested the others. TRINITYS TURN saved ground off the pace, went around a rival into the second turn then angled back to the inside and picked up the show. BLONDY'S REWARD a bit washy at the gate, had good early speed and dueled inside, kicked clear on the second turn, offered little resistance when challenged leaving that turn, came out into the stretch and weakened. DIZZY DIVA angled in and chased outside a rival or off the rail, split horses into and leaving the second turn, came three wide into the stretch and lacked a further response. LOVELY LINDA dueled outside a rival, dropped back just off the rail then outside a rival leaving the second turn and gave way. LOB CITY settled a bit off the rail then inside chasing the pace, dropped back into and on the second turn and also gave way.

DARK PRINCE sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, responded when the runner-up inched closer into the second turn, spurted away again on that turn and won clear under left handed urging and steady handling late. WEEKLY CALL angled in and stalked a bit off the rail, inched closest to the winner into the second turn, continued just off the inside and held second. SEVEN OXEN saved ground chasing the pace, came out into the stretch and was edged for the place between foes late. SURPRISE FASHION forced in some early, chased outside a rival or a bit off the rail, came three wide into the stretch and just missed the show. RED VALOR came in just after the start and was straightened, angled in and saved ground chasing the pace, continued along the rail in the stretch and lacked the needed rally. THIN LINE settled off the pace inside, cut the corner into the stretch, came a bit of the rail in deep stretch and could not summon the necessary response. DATA HAWK chased outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch and did not rally.

CHASING YESTERDAY stalked outside then alongside a rival on the turn, angled in some into the stretch, bid outside the runner-up in the drive and gamely prevailed late under urging. IT'SJUSTANILLUSION sped to a clear early lead, set the pace inside, fought back through the final furlong and continued gamely to the end. ANDYOUSHALLRECEIVE stalked off the rail then outside a rival on the turn, came three wide into the stretch and bested the others. MARRAZANO chased just off the rail, angled to the inside on the turn, continued along the rail in the stretch and lacked a rally. WATCH ME BURN stalked inside then a bit off the rail on the backstretch and turn and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong.

R CHA CHA angled in and dueled outside a rival, took the lead into the stretch, kicked clear under urging and held on gamely. CATS BLAME chased outside then alongside a rival, came out in the stretch and finished willingly. ZIPPY GROOM settled off the rail then inside, came out leaving the hill and three deep into the stretch, angled inward in midstretch and split rivals late for the show. INVASION LOOMING stalked three deep then outside a rival, came out on the dirt crossing and four wide into the stretch and was edged for third four wide on the line. DAVID'S MEMORY saved ground stalking the pace, also came out on the dirt crossing and three deep into the stretch, was between horses in midstretch and was edged for a minor award between foes at the wire. WESTWOOD'S WIZARD stalked a bit off the rail then inside, went around a rival nearing midstretch and continued willingly inside. SILVER SUMMER had good early speed and angled in, dueled inside, dropped back into the stretch and gave way. Rail on hill at zero.

MISS BENNET saved ground stalking the pace, bid inside in the stretch to gain the lead past the eighth pole, kicked clear under urging and proved best. SOOTHING stalked outside, bid three deep on the turn and four wide into the stretch, took a short lead outside foes in midstretch, could not match the winner in the final furlong but clearly bested the others. SOLD IT had good early speed and dueled a bit off the rail then inside, came out a bit into the stretch, was between foes in midstretch and held third. SHOW HOSTESS dueled outside a rival then between horses on the turn and three deep into the stretch and was edged for the show. SAMANDAH between horses early, stalked off the rail then a bit off the fence on the turn, came out in the stretch and was edged for a minor award three deep on the line. TIZ A SHARPIE dropped back off the rail, angled in leaving the backstretch, came out into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. ORCA chased between horses then off the rail, continued a bit off the fence on the turn and weakened. DISCRETE STEVIE B stalked outside then four wide into the turn, continued three deep on the bend and into the stretch and also weakened.

SURFING STAR had good early speed and angled in, dueled inside, inched away under urging in the stretch and won clear. AVANTI BELLO dueled between horses then outside the winner on the second turn and into the stretch, could not match the winner thereafter and just held second. GROUND ATTACK stalked the pace inside, split horses on the second turn, continued inside into the stretch, came out in midstretch and was edged for the place. CALIFORNIA JOURNEY a bit washy at the gate, pressed the pace four wide then three deep into the second turn, angled in and stalked off the rail on that turn, found the inside in the stretch and weakened. PLAIN WRAP settled outside a rival then off the rail leaving the backstretch, went three deep midway on the second turn and alongside a foe into the stretch and lacked a further response. DRIZZY chased inside then a bit off the rail, went outside a rival leaving the second turn and three deep into the stretch, drifted in and did not rally. CARVILLE dueled three deep between horses, dropped back into the second turn, angled in on that turn, came out into the stretch, gave way and was eased through the drive.

AFLEET ASCENT stalked outside a rival then off the rail, came out four wide into the stretch, bid four wide in midstretch under urging then outside the runner-up in deep stretch and edged that one on the line. LITTLE JUANITO saved ground stalking the pace, came out into the stretch bid between foes in midstretch to gain a short lead a sixteenth out, fought back inside the winner and was edged late. BRANDOTHEBARTENDER chased between horses then a bit off the rail, came out leaving the hill and four wide into the stretch and got up for the show. ERIC THE TROJAN settled a bit off the rail then inside, cut the corner into the stretch, came out past midstretch and split rivals in deep stretch to be edged for third. CALEXMAN dueled between horses then outside a rival, regained a short lead in the stretch, was between foes in midstretch and weakened late. ARTIE B GOOD three deep early, settled a bit off the rail then outside a rival leaving the hill, came out into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. FLIP THE COIN JAN had good early speed and angled in, dueled inside, fought back in midstretch and weakened. DENMAN'S CALL saved ground chasing the pace, came out into the stretch and could not offer the necessary late kick. TULE FOG dueled three deep then stalked outside a rival leaving the hill, came three wide into the stretch and weakened. Rail on hill at zero.