Gates opened too early in Del Mar race

DEL MAR, Calif. – Admiral Jaxon, a 3-1 shot, was declared a nonstarter from the third race at Del Mar on Sunday after the race began while an assistant starter was guiding the gelding into the starting gate.

Admiral Jaxon was being walked into the gate of a $40,000 claiming race for maidens when starter John Lopez began the race. The assistant starter who led Admiral Jaxon into the gate scrambled to get out of the way as the gelding took off at the back of the field. Admiral Jaxon ran at the back of the field of nine before eventually finishing fifth.

After an inquiry, stewards Scott Chaney, Kim Sawyer, and Tom Ward declared Admiral Jaxon a nonstarter. As a result, $306,638 in bets in a variety of pools were refunded, according to track officials. Admiral Jaxon was the second betting choice.

Because Admiral Jaxon was declared a nonstarter, a $40,000 claim was not honored. Admiral Jaxon earned no purse money, stewards said. L’s Choice, the 6-5 favorite, finished sixth and was awarded fifth place, earning $1,860 of the $31,750 purse.

Lopez expressed regret about the incident when approached an hour after the race.

“I’m very sorry about that,” he said.

Owned by Michael Whieldon and trained by Jeff Mullins, Admiral Jaxon was making his second start. He was sixth in his career debut at Santa Anita on June 15.

Chaney said the stewards planned to meet with Lopez on Wednesday morning to discuss the incident but stopped short of saying whether a formal hearing would be conducted or whether Lopez would face a potential sanction.

The scratch led to consolation payoffs in the pick three and daily double ending in the third race.