Oct. 8, 2007 — Danzig Mon finished third in Sunday’s feature race at the Randall “Doc” James Race Track, but found himself in the winner’s circle after the top two finishers were disqualified.
Finishing one and two in the one-mile encounter were Crafty Smile, with Elmo Barnes in the irons, and Gallego, with Christian Soto aboard, but foul claims were lodged against both of them.
The first foul apparently came in the backstretch, when jockey Junior Inirio, aboard Strong Passer, claimed he was cut off by Barnes and Crafty Smile. The second foul claim came in the middle of the stretch, when jockey Jesus Guadelupe, aboard Carson Secrets, said his horse was seriously impeded by Soto and Gallego.
The videos of the race were quickly summoned to the racing stewards’ box. After about 20 minutes of reviewing the race, the Stewards upheld both claims.
The unofficial order of finish was Crafty Smile, Gallego, Danzig Mon, Carson Secrets and Strong Passer. The two disqualified horses then had to be placed behind those that were fouled. So the official order of finish became Danzig Mon, ridden by Alphonso Claudio, Carson Secrets, Gallego, Strong Passer and Crafty Smile.
It was an even break at the start, with all the horses getting away well. As they passed the grandstand for the first time, Strong Passer held a slight advantage over Crafty Smile, with Carson Secrets a neck off the pace. Around the clubhouse turn, Strong Passer still held a slight advantage and led the field into the backstretch.
Midway down the backstretch, Strong Passer and Crafty Smile were dead even, with Carson Secrets two lengths back in third, followed by Danzig Mon, with the late-running Gallego bringing up the rear.
At the three-eight poles, Crafty Smile kicked away from Strong Passer to gain the lead, but at the same time, the other three horses also made their moves. Moving best of all, however, was Gallego coming from dead last and quickly gobbling up horses. When the field turned for home, Gallego appeared to gain the lead by a head over the then-tightly bunched group on the outside.
It was then a sprint to the wire. In his run down the stretch, however, Gallego swerved in front of Carson Secrets. As a result, Carson Secrets had pull up slightly and alter his run down the lane.
At mid stretch it was apparent that it had become a two-horse race, as Crafty Smile and Gallego were now ahead of the field, locked in a duel, heading toward the fast-approaching finish line. They raced as one until about 15 yards from the wire, when Crafty Smile edged ahead and crossed in front to unofficially win by a head. The claims of fouls came immediately after the race, and the thrill of victory soon turned into the agony of defeat.
The rest of the day’s results are as follows:
Race 1 4 F Class H, Jockey
Time: 49.1
1. Big Pimping, Junior Inirio
2. Secret Weapon, Elmo Barnes
3. Fifty Cents, Isail Acosta
Race 2 4 1/2 F Class G
Time: 58.4
1. Precious Gold, Jesus Guadelupe
2. Tristich, Junior Inirio
3. Son Ray, Elmo Barnes
Race 3 7 1/2 F Class E & F(1)
Time: 1:35.2
1. Fantastic Four, Jesus Guadelupe
2. Villa Oro, Alphonso Claudio
3. Fightforyourrights, Isail Acosta
Race 4 7 F Class E
Time: 1:28
1. Amazing Cat, Christian Soto
2. Tulsa Boy, Junior Inirio
3. Honor Bonus, Alphonso Claudio
Race 5 1 M Classes C&D
Time: 1:40.1
1. Formally Cat, Jesus Guadelupe
2. Sarazan Blade, Miguel Sanchez
3. Secrets Flying, Junior Inirio
Race 6 1 M Open F&M
Time: 1:41
1. Editora, Jesus Guadelupe
2. Victoria Breeze, Miguel Sanchez
3. She’s Got the Helm, Junior Inirio
Race 8 7 F Classes F (2)
Time: 1:33.2
1. Juelz, Edgar Walker
2. Another Dancer, Christian Soto
3. Heavenly Brass, Junior Inirio
Back Talk Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
