Careless Haskell ride on Nyquist costs Gutierrez $1,000
The Monmouth Park board of stewards has fined jockey Mario Gutierrez $1,000 for careless riding aboard Nyquist in the Haskell Invitational on July 31.
According to the stewards’ ruling, issued Aug. 6, Gutierrez was fined for violating New Jersey racing rule 13:70-11.1 regarding crossing over or weaving. The rule states, “When clear, a horse may be taken to any part of the course, but no horse shall cross over or weave in front of other horses in such a way as to impede them or constitute or cause interference or intimidation.”
According to John Heims, the director of media at Monmouth, Gutierrez was fined for “coming out going into the first turn and crowding.”
Nyquist finished fpurth in the Haskell behind Exaggerator, American Freedom, and Sunny Ridge. Rafael Bejarano, the rider of American Freedom, lodged an objection against Exaggerator and jockey Kent Desormeaux for interference in the stretch, but there was not an inquiry or objection regarding the first turn of the Haskell. Gutierrez’s fine does not affect the order of finish in the race.
Nyquist broke from post 1 over a sloppy track in the Haskell and remained several paths off the rail. He may have come outward slightly entering the first turn, with Awesome Slew and American Freedom just to his outside, but the incident did not appear to play a major role in the outcome.
** An earlier version of this article incorrectly named Joel Rosario as the rider of American Freedom. The rider was Rafael Bejarano.