Jockey Stevens Is Tossed but Avoids Serious Injury

In the 21st and most bizarre running of the Arlington Million, Storming Home crossed the wire first but was disqualified after ducking out near the wire and unseating jockey Gary Stevens just past the finish of the race at Arlington Park near Chicago.

Stevens, who hit the turf hard, appeared to be kicked by a trailing horse and was taken off on a stretcher to a nearby hospital, but onlookers said he was conscious and did speak to Neil Drysdale, Storming Home’s trainer.

Stevens was listed in stable condition after having his left shoulder X-rayed. “Everything appears to be fine. He’s moving his arms and legs,” Stevens’ agent, Craig O’Bryan, told Associated Press.

Storming Home, who had won the Jim Murray and Charlie Whittingham Handicaps earlier this year at Hollywood Park, apparently was spooked by something he saw to his inside.

With the disqualification, which was greeted with a long serenade of boos from the on-track crowd, Sulamani, who was ridden by David Flores, was moved to first. Storming Home was placed fourth because the stewards ruled he interfered with not only Sulamani but also Paolini and Kaieteur, who wound up in a dead heat for third.

The final time for the 1 1/4 miles on a course labeled good was 2:02.29.

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A little more than two months ago, Bobby Frankel-trained Empire Maker kept Funny Cide from a $5-million bonus when he won the Belmont Stakes while the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner struggled home third.

On Saturday, trainer Barclay Tagg returned the favor.

Saddling Island Fashion for the first time in the $750,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga, Tagg kept the Frankel-trained Spoken Fur from sweeping New York’s Triple Tiara and earning a $2-million bonus.

Successful in the Mother Goose and Coaching Club American Oaks after being purchased privately by Frankel for owner John Amerman, Spoken Fur, who had won five in a row, never threatened at 4-5, finishing third under jockey Jerry Bailey.

This capped a lost stakes day for Bailey, who also missed on 9-10 favorite Volponi two races earlier in the $300,000 Saratoga Breeders’ Cup Handicap.

Winless since his 43-1 shocker in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, Volponi was second for the fifth straight time, losing by 3 1/4 lengths to 6-1 longshot Puzzlement.

The winner of the Delaware Oaks on July 19 when trained by Nick Canani, Island Fashion, an 8-1 outsider, won by six lengths under jockey John Velasquez. She completed the 1 1/4 miles in 2:05.08.

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The day wasn’t a total loss for Frankel. Heat Haze, the 17-10 favorite, used a late run under jockey Jose Valdivia Jr. to win the $700,000 Beverly D. at Arlington. Dublino, the 2-1 second choice, finished fifth for trainer Laura De Seroux.

In the third and final Grade I turf race on the Arlington card, Kicken Kris, a 15-1 longshot, won the $400,000 Secretariat.

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Getting back to Funny Cide, it is becoming almost certain that he won’t be running in Saturday’s $1-million Travers.

“His blood count is still a little off,” Tagg said. “He might have a low-grade infection or is fighting off something. He’s highly unlikely for the Travers.”

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A horse was destroyed after injuring his leg in the 10th race at Del Mar and triggering a three-horse spill that was the track’s second accident in a week.

Naskra Nick was turning for home in the 6 1/2-furlong race when he appeared to take several bad steps. As jockey Martin Pedroza pulled the horse up, Naskra Nick veered out and hit Jason Raj and jockey Max Corrales, causing them to fall.

Jockey Scotty Ziesing and his horse Chataquos’ Chance were struck by Jason Raj and also fell in the 12-horse field.

Naskra Nick hurt his left front leg and was removed from the track by horse ambulance. He was later euthanized. The other two horses appeared to escape serious injury.

Corrales was taken to Scripps Hospital La Jolla for precautionary X-rays on his left shoulder and right knee. Pedroza and Ziesing reported no injuries.

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A report on electronic wagering commends the thoroughbred racing industry for increasing security in the wake of the Breeders’ Cup Pick Six betting scandal but adds that more improvements are needed. Among the recommendations in the report, to be issued today by the NTRA Wagering Technology Working Group, are creating a national office of wagering security; uniform security standards in the pari-mutuel system; and upgrading technology to stop hackers.

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Associated Press contributed to this report.