Magna Light's connections file appeal of Sanford disqualification

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The connections of Magna Light have appealed the Saratoga track stewards’ decision to disqualify that horse from first place in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Sanford Stakes.

Magna Light finished first by three-quarters of a length, but was disqualified by the stewards after he drifted out severely under jockey Jose Ortiz’s left-handed whip then veered back in toward Percolator, who finished third, a half-length behind second-place finisher Uncle Vinny.

Kendrick Carmouche, the jockey of Percolator, lodged an objection, claiming he was bothered by Magna Light when the horse drifted back in toward his horse in deep stretch. The stewards agreed and disqualified Magna Light from first and placed him third. Uncle Vinny was elevated from second to first, Percolator from third to second.

“I thought their decision was the wrong decision – virtually everybody in the racetrack could see it was the wrong decision,” said Michael Dubb, who heads the ownership group of Magna Light. “I plan to use every source of appeal I can to try and get it reversed.”

Dubb, a prominent owner and member of New York Racing Association board of directors, filed his appeal Monday with the New York State Gaming Commission.

On Monday, the Saratoga stewards gave Ortiz a suspension of five racing days for his ride on Magna Light. Ortiz has appealed the ruling.

Magna Light is trained by Rudy Rodriguez, a native of Mexico. After the Sanford, Dubb told reporters that he felt Rodriguez’s Hispanic background could have played a role in the stewards’ decision.

“We know there is a big Hispanic community here,” Dubb said. “I’m not sure the same standards apply to everybody on the racetrack in general, not just in my case. I don’t think the living conditions that the Hispanic people live in are good; I don’t think they’re treated that well. So we’ll see what happens.”

Appeals in disqualifications are rarely successful. However, in 2006 the connections of Rahys’ Appeal were successful in their appeal of a stewards’ decision to disqualify her from first place in the Grade 2 Top Flight after her jockey inadvertently hit a rival horse in the face with a whip.