Neural Network wins Gander Stakes after stewards rule Maker's Candy interfered
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Neural Network crossed the finish line second, 1 1/2 lengths behind Maker’s Candy in Saturday’s $97,000 Gander Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds at Aqueduct, but he was awarded the victory when the stewards deemed that Maker’s Candy had interfered with him by drifting out several paths in the stretch.
Though the two horses did not make contact, Manny Franco, the jockey on Neural Network, argued that his horse was intimidated by Maker’s Candy, who had drifted out three to four paths under Jose Gomez after taking the lead from D’ont Lose Cruz at the top of the lane.
“I know I can win the race, but at the same time he’s drifting me out, drifting me out, intimidating my horse, that’s why my horse didn’t pass,” Franco said. “I felt like if we kept straight, we would pass him easy.”
As it was, Neural Network was fortunate to hold off a rail-rallying Dr. Kraft by a neck for second. Dr. Kraft was last after bobbling at the break and finished third by 4 3/4 lengths clear of D’ont Lose Cruz. Starquist was last.
Maker’s Candy had prompted the pace of D’ont Lose Cruz and took the lead at the head of the lane. Despite Gomez’s best efforts, he couldn’t prevent Maker’s Candy from badly drifting out in the final furlong. Still, Gomez disagreed with the stewards’ decision.
“My horse was getting out. I tried to correct him, obviously I didn’t do it enough,” Gomez said. “Never made any contact. I don’t understand why I was taken down.”
For Neural Network, the win was the second from three starts. He beat New York-breds in a maiden race at Aqueduct in November, then finished fourth in the Jerome Stakes, seemingly resenting the kickback. Trainer Chad Brown added blinkers for this race and Franco indicated they helped him attain a more forward position in the early going.
Neural Network, a son of Cloud Computing owned by Klaravich Stables, returned $4.70 as the favorite. The final time for the mile was 1:38.64.
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