DQ 12 Brick Ambush

[eye123]

You're the steward.......

[1hooper]

From NYRA website.

Race 9

Steward’s inquiry. At the ¼ pole #12 Brick Ambush (Junior Alvarado) came in, causing a chain reaction. The #11 Solo’s Fury (Jose Lezcano) pushes down into the #7 The Big Torpedo (Javier Castellano). After reviewing the video and speaking with the riders, the stewards disqualified the #12 Brick Ambush for interference and place him behind the #11 Solo’s Fury.

Official order of finish: 1-3-7-6.

With regard to interference, New York is a “Category 2” state, meaning that Commission rules provide that if the interferer is guilty of causing interference and such interference in the judgment of the Stewards has altered the finish of the race, then the interferer is placed behind the offended horse. The Stewards consider whether the riders of the horse or horses that are offended continue to give effort to the finish of the race. The Stewards also consider whether the offending jockey acted in a willful or careless manner while interfering with another horse or jockey, for which the interferer may be disqualified, i.e., placed last or unplaced in the order of finish. For example, if an offending jockey acts in a dangerous manner, exhibits extremely improper riding or impedes several horses, the Stewards may disqualify the offending horse without regard to the specific effect of the foul on the order of finish.

[1hooper]

Cluster F story. www.drf.com/news/brick-ambush-big-torpedo-connections-file-appeals-great-white-way-disqualification

[unusualpete]

i thought this an interesting note. became acquaintances w a ca steward over the years. dude told me in regards to changing finish order, they look at video as if there aren't riders. the jockeys are considered only when punitive measures are to be enforced, long after the race has been made official.

[5wide]

I played Brick Ambush and am flabbergasted on how the stewards arrived at that decision. I was sure # 1 was coming down .

[eye123]

No accountability for the stewards. The fact that after the ruling they made this statement to Alvarado   “since I was outside I was the only one that could’ve released the pressure, whatever that means.” just makes you want to say WTF. So now any jock even near an incident can be accused of not foreseeing the possibility of an infraction. OK WTF. Sorry for any bettor who lost money here. Inexcusable. They made a mistake(stewards), and are going to double down. And how does this happen?  ( Javier Castellano, the rider of The Big Torpedo, said he lodged an objection - though it was not clear against which horse - that was never relayed to the stewards.) Can horse racing ever get their act together for more transparency ? When pigs fly. (They'll probably throw a pig from a ten story building and claim it did) 

[5wide]

Alvarado couldn't do a thing, #1 coming out pushed Javier's horse into Brick Ambush's backside. He doesn't have eyes in the back of his head, he kept a straight line.

[tenfurlongs]

I had no wagers on this race, so hopefully an impartial view. I've watched the replay multiple times, from the head-on as well, which may be more informative.

The horse that no one has mentioned, #11- Solo's Fury, should be the focus. Coming off the final bend, #3 is clear on the lead by 3/4 length in the two-path, and isn't involved, although he drifts out slightly entering the stretch. Solo's Fury is second by a length, in the three path. #1- Antonio of Venice and #12- Brick Ambush are a joint third, by about 1/2 length, in the one and four-paths, respectively. #7- The Big Torpedo is fifth, in between those two, half a length back directly behind #11.

The chain reaction starts when Solo's Fury reacts badly to Brick Ambush ranging up on his outside. There doesn't seem to be much contact, but the horse's head turns left and he checks badly, so maybe a slight bump or brush by Brick Ambush. This happens directly in front of The Big Torpedo, which has to check sharply, and outside of Antonio of Venice, which has just begun to slide to his right to begin his run on the leader, leaving no escape for Castellano.  

IMO: Antonio of Venice was entitled to the path he took entering the stretch, he was ahead of The Big Torpedo when he gradually angled out. Watch those two in isolation, there is no problem until Solo's Fury veers in badly. TBT was hoping for a hole to open outside of AOV, but got shut off by SF. Brick Ambush continued straight to the wire but was overhauled by AOV at the 1/16 pole. Take Solo's Fury out of the race, and none of this happens. So as a steward, you have to decide why SF acted like he did. NYRA stewards felt Brick Ambush set off the carnage by brushing past Solo's Fury. They also spoke to the riders involved, and we aren't privy to those conversations. 

I could certainly be wrong, but Solo's Fury action was the main culprit, and The Big Torpedo was the main victim.


From a Bloodhorse article-

Posted on the NYRA website's "Stewards Decisions" page under the Dec. 16 NYSS Stakes, the stewards wrote: "At the 1/4 pole #12 Brick Ambush (Junior Alvarado) came in, causing a chain reaction. The #11 Solo’s Fury (Jose Lezcano) pushes down into the #7 The Big Torpedo (Javier Castellano). After reviewing the video and speaking with the riders, the stewards disqualified the #12 Brick Ambush for interference and place him behind the #11 Solo’s Fury."

Franco (rider of Antonio of Venice) agreed with the stewards.

“I held my spot inside (at the top of the lane) and the pressure was coming from outside," Franco said in the post-race interview. He added that he felt he hadn't interfered with The Big Torpedo. "Javier (Castellano) wasn't there yet, he was trying to get there."




TW

[1hooper]

[Badactor]

[5wide]

Repole didn't like the decision either

www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/after-great-white-way-stakes-fiasco-repole-calls-for-jockey-club-leaders-to-resign/