Celtic Melody wins Humana Distaff via disqualification

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Gold Mover finished first, but was disqualified by the stewards for interference in midstretch, enabling Celtic Melody to win the Grade 1, $228,000 , one of five stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs.

Gold Mover, a slight favorite over Nasty Storm, was placed second. Hattiesburg finished third.

Gold Mover, under John Velazquez, came four wide outside of the pace-prompting Celtic Melody around the turn and into the stretch, and veered in a step at the eighth pole, causing Mark Guidry to check aboard Celtic Melody, who tried to savage Spanish Glitter. Guidry switched Celtic Melody to the outside and came on again, falling a head short at the wire.

Guidry lodged an objection, and after several minutes, the stewards disqualified Gold Mover for interference. Celtic Melody returned $16.60 to win. The final time for seven furlongs was 1:22.98.

"He came in pretty good at the eighth pole, made us check pretty good and just beat us a nod so it definitely cost us the win,' Guidry said. "The filly ran a great race, fought hard every step of the way. To be honest with you I didn't want to be that close but once she broke I said I'm not going to take it away from her.'

Velazquez said he didn't know someone was inside of him, and thought that the rail horse, Spanish Glitter, may have caused Celtic Melody to check.

"There was somebody next to him before he was there,' Velazquez said. "I didn't even know he was in there. Somebody yelled, but I thought 'It can't be me' . . . I didn't think I bothered her to be honest.'

Jimmy Jerkens, who trains Celtic Melody for the Vinery Stables of R. Bates Newton, captured his first Grade 1 win since going out on his own in 1997.