Mala awarded first after Drop Um disqualified in Bay Meadows Juvenile

Mala was promoted from second to first in Sunday’s $75,900 Bay Meadows Juvenile in Pleasanton, Calif., after race winner Drop Um was disqualified and placed second for lugging out in the stretch.

Drop Um (4-1) finished a neck in front of Mala after the two dueled through the final quarter-mile. After a brief inquiry, the stewards promoted Mala ($31.20).

William Antongeorgi rode Mala, while Santos Rivera was aboard Drop Um. Mala was timed in 1:48.98 for 1 1/16 miles.

Accidental Genius closed from sixth with a strong rally to finish third beaten a half-length, and was followed by Thirsty Vision, Maximus, Nijinsky Halo, and Kalea Bay.

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Kalea Bay, the 4-5 favorite, was well placed on the backstretch and turn, but faded from contention in early stretch. Kalea Bay was trainer Bob Baffert’s first starter at Pleasanton since 1998.

Mala raced in fifth on the backstretch, well behind pacesetter Maximus, who set early fractions of 23.94 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 49.12 for a half-mile.

Mala closed ground quickly on the turn with a wide rally to join Drop Um, who stalked the early pace while racing in third and reached contention on the turn.

Mala, a California-bred colt by Union Rags, races for Greg Avery and trainer Steve Sherman. Mala has won 2 of 5 starts and earned $77,903.

A colt, Mala won a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs at Pleasanton in his second career start, in July. Mala has had three starts this fall, finishing third in an allowance race at six furlongs on Oct. 27 and second to Accidental Genius in an allowance race at a mile and 70 yards on Nov. 17 before Sunday’s win.

The Bay Meadows Juvenile was the final stakes of the Golden State Racing meeting at Pleasanton, which was held for the first time this year. The meeting replaced an autumn season previously run at Golden Gate Fields in the fall.

Golden Gate Fields closed permanently in June.

There is a nine-race program on Wednesday, the closing day of the Golden State Racing meeting.

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