Dubb drops appeal, apologizes to Saratoga stewards

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Michael Dubb, who heads the group that owns Magna Light, has withdrawn his appeal of the disqualification of that horse from first place in the Grade 3, $150,000 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga on July 25.

Further, Dubb said he apologized to the stewards for comments he made after the race suggesting that his trainer, Rudy Rodriguez, is treated unfairly, and that the disqualification came about in part because of Rodriguez’s Hispanic background. The stewards on Thursday confirmed that Dubb apologized to them in person.

“As the saying goes, two wrongs don’t make a right, and while I strongly disagree with the [disqualification] of Magna Light, my choice of words, which came at the heat of [the] moment, and tremendous disappointment were inappropriate and wrong,” Dubb wrote in a text message to Daily Racing Form. “The stewards deserved an apology, which they got, and I felt it better to withdraw the appeal and move on.”

Magna Light crossed the finish line first in the Sanford but drifted out severely under Jose Ortiz’s left-handed whip then veered back in and was deemed to have cost Percolator a position. Percolator finished third, while Uncle Vinny got up for second. Magna Light was disqualified from first and placed third behind Uncle Vinny and Percolator.

Dubb withdrew his appeal and issued his apology Monday. The stewards formally made the Sanford official Thursday.