Racing! We’ve got more stewards rulings

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we await the naming of the chosen Breeders’ Cup horses on Wednesday (and the Dodgers on Tuesday.)

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

--Jockey Joe Talamo was fined $100 for using the riding crop more than three times without waiting for Lady Prancealot to respond in the fifth race on Oct. 8. The filly finished second. The stewards noted that Talamo had not had a crop violation in quite some time and “fell on his sword and admitted that he violated the rule.”

--Exercise rider Serafin Carmona was fined $50 for violating parking regulations on Sept. 28 and Oct. 7. Carmona said he was late to work and took the first spot he saw. (Like who hasn’t done that?)

--Jockey Gary Stevens was fined $200 for using the riding crop more than three time without waiting for Midnight Miracle to respond in the seventh race on Oct. 12. The horse won the race. It was Stevens second violation in 60 days. He admitted he violated the rule.

--Trainer Alfredo Marquez was fined $1,000 when his horse, Wheresthemoneyjack, tested for an overage of Phenylbutazone, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory. The horse had in excess of 3.45 ug/ml in his system. He won the third race at Del Mar on Aug. 18. Marquez said he leaves the administration of drugs to his veterinarian and that the normal protocol was followed. It was Marquez’s second violation in the past year.

--Trainer Dan Blacker was fined $400 for a late Lasix registration on Absolutely Perfect, who finished fourth in the seventh race on Oct. 13. Blacker accepted responsibility.

--Groom Ian Chin was ordered to return $1,000 to trainer Paula Capestro for overpayment of wages. The stewards said: “It took three separate hearings and reams of paper to decipher who owed whom. Neither party was thrilled with the decision.”

--Jockey Mauro Donoe was fined $100 for using the riding crop more than three times without waiting for Cheyenne Dancer to respond in the sixth race on Oct. 13. The filly finished third. Donoe admitted he was “over-zealous” with the riding crop.

--Jockey Bryan Pena was fined $300 for using his riding crop on Shirl’s Ready when the horse was clearly out of contention in the first race on Oct. 13. The horse finished last in a six-horse race.

--Trainer Doug O’Neill was fined $400 for a late trainer’s scratch of Enaya Alrabb in the seventh race on Oct. 14. O’Neill said the owners did not want to run the horse because the main track was closed in the morning because of overnight rain.

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Santa Anita review

Under a patient ride from Gary Stevens, Sparky Ville mad his move mid-stretch to win the $70,000 Sunny Slope Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths. The race for 2-year-olds lost a lot of cache when two horses scratched leaving a field of four.

Sparky Ville took back into third as Seven Secrets and Savagery battled on the front. But Stevens slowly brought this first-time gelding into contention and then sped to front when he needed to and won.

Sparky Ville paid $6.20 and $3.20. There was no show betting. Savagery was second and Seven Seconds was third.

“[Trainer] Jeff [Bonde] told me to ride a smart race, whatever that means,” Stevens said. “I’ve never seen a horse turn it around so quick after being gelded as this horse. … Before they cut him, there is no way I could’ve done that. … He’s going to keep getting better and better with every race.”

Big races review

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

Woodbine (8): Grade 3 $125,000 Grey Stakes, 2-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles. Winner: Solidify ($10.30)

Keeneland (8): Grade 3 $125,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 ½ miles on turf. Winner: Vexatious ($10.60)

Belmont (8): Grade 3 $200,000 Athenia Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 mile on turf. Winner: Rymska ($10.00)

Final thought

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

LUMINOSO threw her head some at the break, stalked outside a rival, bid outside the pacesetter in midstretch, gained the advantage nearing the sixteenth pole and proved best under urging. POETIC saved ground stalking the pace, came out into the stretch, went around a rival past midstretch then collared the pacesetter late for the place. KATHERINE pulled her way to the early lead, angled in and set the pace a bit off the rail, battled inside the winner in midstretch, could not match that one in the final furlong and lost second late. DON'T BLAME JUDY angled in and saved ground chasing the pace, continued along the rail in the stretch and lacked the needed late kick. TINABUD came out early and chased alongside the runner-up, ranged up three deep leaving the second turn and into the stretch but weakened in the drive.

JUST HIT PLAY had good early speed and dueled a bit off the rail then outside a rival leaving the turn, inched away into the stretch and held sway under urging. CALDER VALE dueled three deep then stalked off the rail on the turn, came three wide into the stretch and bested the others. DRINKS ALL AROUND saved ground stalking the pace, bid along the rail on the turn and held third. EMPIRICAL DATA stalked outside then three deep, ranged up five wide midway on the turn and four wide into the stretch and lacked the needed response in the drive. MR. CLASS bobbled as the ground broke out behind at the start, chased off the rail, came four wide into the stretch and did not rally. A SALUTE TO LT DAN hopped some in a bit of an awkward start, stalked between horses then off the rail, angled in some nearing the stretch and weakened. NEW SALUTE dueled between horses, fell back and stalked on the turn, found the inside in the stretch and also weakened.

HARMONY VICTORY bobbled at the start, came off the rail to stalk the early pace then dueled outside the runner-up, took a short lead leaving the turn, inched away into the stretch and drew clear under urging. TEQUILA SUNRISE sped to the early lead and angled in, dueled inside, fought back leaving the second turn and bested the others. SENSIBLE THOUGHTS threw her head in a bit of a slow, awkward start, saved ground chasing the pace throughout and edged a rival late for the show. TURING MACHINE went up three deep leaving the first turn then stalked off the rail, came out into the stretch, drifted in some in the drive and was edged for third late.

BATIQUITOS dueled between horses then outside a rival, took a short lead in midstretch and held on gamely under urging. MOONSHINE ANNIE chased off the rail then inside leaving the hill and into the stretch, came out past midstretch and finished well. EMMY AND I had good early speed and dueled inside, came a bit off the rail in upper stretch, fought back and drifted in slightly in midstretch, battled inside in deep stretch and just held third. SCATHING stalked outside a rival then between foes, angled in on the hill, cut the corner into the stretch, bid along the inside but steadied in tight in midstretch, came out for room and was edged for third. CHARMINGSLEW chased outside a rival, came three deep into the stretch, angled out in upper stretch and found her best stride late. SHYLOCK EDDIE broke a bit slowly, settled off the pace inside, came out in upper stretch and had a mild late bid. CHASIN LUCAS stalked four wide then three deep leaving the hill, came four wide into the stretch, was under urging in the drive then had the rider lose the whip in midstretch and lacked the needed late kick. COALINGA HILLS dueled three deep then stalked off the rail or between rivals, came three wide into the stretch and weakened. ROLLING SHADOW stalked off the rail then three deep between foes, angled in between horses leaving the hill and also weakened. CARRIE'S SUCCESS a bit slow to begin, settled off the rail then inside, came out into the stretch and did not rally. The stewards conducted an inquiry into the run in midstretch between the third and fourth finishers but made no change when they ruled there was never sufficient room for SCATHING at that point. Rail on hill at zero.

EXTRA HOPE stalked outside a rival then off the rail, bid alongside the runner-up on the second turn, took the lead leaving that turn, inched away into the stretch and drew clear under urging then a snug hold late. MAGNIFICENT MCCOOL sent between horses early, angled in and set the pace inside, dueled along the rail on the second turn, came a bit off the fence in the stretch and just held second between foes late. STREET CLASS came off the rail to stalk the pace to the stretch and was edged for the show three deep on the line. ROYAL INSIDER broke slowly, settled off the inside then angled to the rail leaving the first turn, saved ground thereafter and was edged for a minor award. LINGUA FRANCA chased outside a rival then off the rail, dropped back on the second turn and gave way.

BUCKYS PICK had speed between horses then stalked between foes, continued just off the rail leaving the hill and three deep into the stretch and rallied under urging to get up nearing the wire. WORTHY TURK stalked outside a rival then three deep leaving the hill and into the stretch, bid three wide in the drive, took a short lead in deep stretch but was edged late. SNAZZY DRESSER sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, came a bit off the rail into the stretch, fought back between foes in deep stretch and held third. EXULTATION saved ground stalking the pace, bid inside in the drive and was edged for the show. WILD WILD KINGDOM had speed off the rail then stalked between horses to the stretch, drifted inward in the drive and lacked a rally. OFFSHORE settled off the rail then outside a rival, swung four wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. HEARTFULLOFSTARS broke a bit slowly, settled just off the rail then inside, came out leaving the hill and into the stretch and could not offer the necessary response. ZAPANA'S GAME settled outside then off the rail, angled in a bit off the fence on the hill, came outside a rival into the stretch and also lacked the needed rally. SPA SHACKALACKA was in a good position stalking the pace three deep, came four wide into the stretch and weakened. STYLISTICS UNITED chased off the rail then angled to the inside on the hill, cut the corner into the stretch and weakened. Rail on hill at zero.

SPARKY VILLE stalked outside a rival then just off the rail on the turn, came out leaving the turn and into the stretch, bid three deep in midstretch, put a head in front a sixteenth out and inched away under a couple left handed cracks of the whip and good handling. SAVAGERY three deep early, dueled outside a rival, gained a short lead between horses in the stretch, fought back in deep stretch but could not quite match the winner late. SEVEN SCENTS had good early speed and dueled a bit off the rail, fought back just off the fence in the stretch, drifted in and weakened some late. SHARK saved ground stalking the pace, dropped back on the turn, came out a bit into the stretch, gave way and was eased in the drive.

OUR SLICK CHICK five wide into the first turn, bid four wide on the backstretch, dueled outside a rival on the second turn, took the lead leaving that turn and drew clear under some urging. INLAND EMPIRE chased off the rail or outside foes, came four wide into the stretch, drifted in and edged a rival for the place. K P'S SMOKIN had speed three deep then stalked between horses or off the rail, came three wide into the stretch, also drifted in and was edged for second. CEE SAM'S GIRL settled outside a rival, came out leaving the backstretch, went four wide on the second turn and into the stretch and was edged for third. REINAHERMOSA saved ground off the pace, moved up inside in the stretch, was in a bit tight off heels past midstretch then split foes with a late bid at a minor award. GIRL DRAMA had good early speed and angled in, dueled inside, fought back leaving the second turn and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. SUMMER DOWN NOW had speed between horses then stalked a bit off the rail, came out on the second turn and five wide into the stretch and weakened. C. R. GOLDEN QUEEN saved ground chasing the pace, came out into the stretch and also weakened. PRAY FOR CORDAY four wide into the first turn, bid three deep between foes on the backstretch, dropped back on the second turn, came four wide into the stretch and had little left for the drive. ATREVIDA four wide into the first turn, angled in and dueled outside a rival then between foes on the backstretch, also dropped back and angled in on the second turn, gave way and was eased in the drive.

EROTIC chased three deep then off the rail, came out six wide into the stretch, drifted in and rallied under left handed urging to get up three deep late. BIG BUZZ settled outside a rival then inside into the stretch, came out in midstretch and rallied between horses. RAGING TIGER broke a bit slowly, chased outside a rival or just off the rail, angled to the inside into the stretch, bid along the fence to take a short lead, then fought back to the end. BLITZKRIEG had good early speed and dueled inside, came a bit off the rail in the stretch, battled outside a rival in midstretch and weakened late. SHAKY ALIBI dueled three deep between horses to the stretch and weakened. PITINO chased off the rail, swung five wide into the stretch, drifted in some and lacked the needed rally. PALADAR dueled between horses, fought back outside a rival into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. FACTORIAL prompted pace four wide down the hill and into the stretch and also weakened. BLAZE OF GLORY stalked off the rail then inside, came out into the stretch and gave way. Rail on hill at zero.