Friday’s second race, a six furlong sprint for maiden 2-year-olds,
was declared a no contest by track stewards as a result of a loose horse
running the wrong way up the homestretch.
Spinning Love was away in good order, but as he left the chute
he hesitated and then jumped to his left, over the temporary inside
rail, unseating jockey Alonso Quinonez. He proceeded to run the wrong
way along the inside rail through the Club House turn and into the
stretch.
“First-time starters coming out of the one hole going
three-quarters, sometimes they do that (veer in),” said Quinonez, who
was uninjured. “Sometimes we’re able to help them by keeping the stick
in the left hand, but when he saw the horses outside of him, he tried to
run away from them.”
Santa Anita’s three-member board of stewards, Scott Chaney, Kim Sawyer and Tom Ward, acted swiftly.
“We radioed our outriders and one of them was able to
communicate to the jockeys that we had a loose horse running the wrong
way,” said Sawyer. “We also told Trevor (Denman) and he immediately
announced it. As the field rounded the turn, the jockeys could see the
loose horse and they stopped riding.
“Our outrider who is positioned at the starting gate chased the
loose horse and was able to herd him towards the outside rail as he
headed up the stretch, and at that point the jockeys went ahead and
persevered with their mounts to the wire.
“It was our judgment, however, that the race be declared a no
contest, because it was obvious that the running of the race had been
seriously disrupted.”
Trainer Tim Yakteen reported that Spinning Love exited his wrong way ordeal in good order.
“He came out of it absolutely fine,” said Yakteen of the first
time starter. “He headed straight for the stable area and he’s back at
my barn now.”
As a result of the no contest ruling, full refunds, totaling
$267,507, were granted on all daily doubles involving races two and
three, win, place and show wagers, exactas, trifectas and superfectas.
For those including race two in their Pick 3s, 4s, 5s, and in
the Pick All, the race is considered an “All” race for pari-mutuel
purposes and the tickets are live.