Diodoro's protest of starter allowance denied

Stewards here said they have denied a protest of Chris and Dave’s eligibility for a $50,000 starter allowance that he won Feb. 23 at Oaklawn. Robertino Diodoro, who trained the runner-up, filed the protest and told Daily Racing Form on Thursday that he planned to appeal.

The protest was first reported by the Paulick Report.

The stewards told DRF that the protest was received after the race and was denied based on a racing rule in Arkansas. It reads, in part, “a protest, except a claim growing out of happenings in the running of the race, must be made in writing, signed by the complainant and filed with the stewards at least sixty minutes before post time of the race in question.”

Chris and Dave was a 2 1/4-length winner for owner Danny Caldwell and trainer Federico Villafranco.

Diodoro on Thursday received a letter from the stewards on the matter. His appeal could lead to a hearing. He trains Secret Passage, the runner-up in the race, for Lucky Dog Stables, Fitch Racing Stable, and Selman Shaby. He also previously trained the recently claimed Chris and Dave.

◗ Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said that Ultimate Mo, a dominant maiden special weight winner Feb. 10 at Oaklawn, will advance to the track’s Grade 3, $200,000 Honeybee next Saturday, March 9. The race carries qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks. Lukas said Ultimate Mo is to be ridden by David Cabrera.

◗ Market King, who exits a third-place finish in a first-level allowance, remains on deck for the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel here March 16, Lukas said Friday.