Not the first 'match race' for Collmus

The so-called “match race” that resulted from four horses being scratched from the first race Monday at Churchill was not the first for Larry Collmus in more than 25 years of race-calling.

“I guess I’ve had maybe four or five,” said Collmus. “One of them was actually planned at Suffolk years ago. The others all scratched down like this one did.”

Theodore’s Cash won the Monday opener by three lengths over Stereo in Motion after the rest of the six-horse field was scratched.

Collmus recalled a disqualification resulting from a two-horse race he called June 14, 1995, at Monmouth Park, when November Sunset, ridden by Carlos Marquez Jr., finished first.

“Marquez came over on Joe Bravo on Trucking Baron, and the stewards took November Sunset down,” he said.

Meanwhile, Collmus will be in New York for the Belmont Stakes for all four race days here next week (June 5-8). Bill Downes will be back again from Indiana Grand to substitute.