Nasal strip mix-up

Trainer Bill Delia was not a happy camper before the Grade 3 All American at Golden Gate Fields on Monday when Minister Vivendi, who would run last as the longest shot on the board, arrived in the paddock without his usual nasal strip. As the horses went on the track for the post parade, Delia was on the phone with the stewards vociferously voicing his displeasure.

“This horse is owned by Dana Rocheford and means the world to her,” Delia said after the race. “She bought the nasal strips wanting to put them on him, and we’ve been using them all along.

“I was saddling the horse and hadn’t even looked at him when she asked me where the nasal strip was, and I had no answer.”

All stakes runners at Golden Gate are assigned guards who stay with them from 8 a.m. the morning of a race. Although nasal strips are legal in California, the guard refused to let Delia’s groom attach the nasal strip before leading Minister Vivendi to the receiving barn before the race, the trainer said.

Stewards told Delia, he could attach the nasal strip behind the starting gate, but Delia did not think that was practical after the horse had warmed up and was ready to run.

After the races, safety steward Vic Stauffer was asked about the decision and said he had heard nothing about it. Stauffer tried unsuccessfully to contact the company that supplied the guards Monday night and got back to Delia later to say that he would follow up.

“I can’t guarantee nasal strips help, but we’re talking nasal strips, not drugs,” said Delia. “If something’s wrong, it will show up in testing. If they want to check things out, they should do it every race.”

Minister Vivendi was in a tough spot and was last the entire race, but the lack of effort was uncharacteristic of him. Delia wonders if having a guard in front of his stall affected the 4-year-old Ministers Wild Cat gelding.

“If you stand in front of his stall, he wants attention,” Delia said. “He’ll come to the front and shake his head because he wants a carrot or to have you pet him.”

Delia plans to meet with the stewards to find out what happened and says he has a number of questions.

“We’ll get to the bottom of it,” he said. “I’m going to say my piece. If we get the right answers, it will probably be over, but it was a terrible mix-up.”