Deconstructing a race that went all wrong
OLDSMAR, Fla. - The folks on hand to watch last Tuesday's fourth race witnessed more than a few things that can go wrong in the course of a race.
For starters, Cathy's Clown became extremely agitated and fractious in the starting gate and delayed the start. Then, just a split second before the gates opened the filly tried to rear up, and she threw her head over the side of the starting gate bars, effectively eliminating herself. A split second later, when she did leave the gate, she managed to knock down one of the assistant starters.
But that was just the beginning in the mile and 40-yard race for $8,000 claiming fillies and mares. As the horses moved through the first turn, Cohiba's Wildchild, with Jose Lopez aboard, appeared to clip the heels of a rival and went down, unseating and then rolling over Lopez.
Belgrade Lakes, with apprentice Tim Hardy riding, made a valiant effort to vault the fallen horse and rider, and while she avoided contact, she landed awkwardly, losing her action and sending Hardy flying.
Meanwhile jockey Federico Mata, aboard Baradone, did a great job of staying on his mount as Baradone half jumped the fallen rider and squeezed between him and the inner rail. Borobeta and Alfredo Clemente were also forced to take up sharply to avoid the spill.
Hardy suffered a compound fracture of the right arm in the spill, while Lopez escaped with a variety of bumps and bruises and was back riding on Friday. No horses were seriously injured, and Cathy's Clown was declared a non-starter and all money wagered on her was refunded.
Show Me Baby ($9.20) won the race with Care Behr second and J's Heidee G. third.
Rosendo, Homeister Delaware-bound
Jockey Irwin Rosendo has moved to Delaware Park to get ready for that meet, which starts April 19.
Rosendo's meet highlight at Tampa Bay was a victory aboard Awesome Chic in the $200,000 Florida Oaks, and he won 24 races at the meet. Most of those wins came after he teamed with agent Tom Stift midway through the meet.
Rosemary Homeister Jr. plans to ride here for the rest of the meeting before moving to Delaware Park.
Dime bet pays $38,169
You say there's no buying power in a dime these days? There's one horseplayer in Ohio who disagrees.
This bettor hit the superfecta in Friday's sixth race for a track-record 10-cent payout of $38,169.
The 5-1 Pattysbuddy won the claiming sprint and was followed across the wire by 143-1 Quibble's Coyote, 92-1 Mr. Chocolate, and 4-1 A Splash of Tour. The winning combination was 10-1-4-11.