SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Thursday’s $125,000 Rick Violette Stakes  at Saratoga ended on the racetrack with Let’s Go Big Blue narrowly holding off 4-5 favorite Ramblin’ Wreck by a nose in a thrilling finish to register a game and apparent victory in the 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-old New York-breds. But the final outcome of the race ultimately ended in the hands of the stewards, who reversed the order of finish. The stewards disqualified Let’s Go Big Blue for drifting out under a left-hand stick in the closing yards, impeding Ramblin’ Wreck and, in their words, “costing him a placing in the process.” The stewards decision resulted in a cascade of boos from the stands, in part, perhaps, because Let’s Go Big Blue is owned by former NFL coaching legend Bill Parcells, whose Maple Leaf Mel fatally broke down just yards from an apparent victory in the Grade 1 Test Stakes less than two weeks ago. Ramblin’ Wreck was ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., who claimed foul against jockey Jose Lezcano alleging interference in late stretch. Ortiz was involved in a similarly controversial decision earlier this month when not having his number taken down after being involved in a bumping incident in midstretch aboard Forte en route to his victory in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy.  His win in the Rick Violette was his third of four victories on Thursday’s card. :: Get Saratoga Clocker Reports from Mike Welsch and the Clocker Team. Available every race day.  The official result overshadowed a highly entertaining renewal of the Rick Violette that began with Vacation Dance and Itsallcomingtogetha, who narrowly defeated Ramblin’ Wreck four weeks earlier in the Cab Calloway Division of the New York Stallion Series, contesting the early pace. Lezcano allowed Let’s Go Big Blue to settle near the rear of the compact field about four lengths off the early leaders before angling wide to launch his bid into the stretch. Let’s Go Big Blue surged to the front nearing the furlong marker, then dug in courageously to turn back Ramblin’ Wreck while coming out under a left-hand stick and carrying that rival out some in deep stretch. Ramblin’ Wreck lagged at the rear of the field for over six furlongs, swung widest commencing his rally exiting the turn and got within a head of Let’s Go Big Blue in midstretch. But he could never get by the leader while carried out several paths by that rival approaching the wire, although Ortiz continued to drive hard to the end. Willintoriskitall finished third, 5 1/2 lengths further back, while never menacing the top pair. Itsallcomintogetha tired to be fourth and was followed by King of Comedy and a weary Vacation Dance. Ramblin’ Wreck, a son of Redesdale, is trained by Danny Gargan for the partnership of Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Peter and Patty Searles. He paid $3.80. Final time for the original winner over a “good” course was 1:41.40 seconds. “It looked to me he [Rambin’ Wreck] was going to go right on by if he didn’t come out and bump him,” Gargan said when asked his opinion of the ruling. “I mean you’re talking about a horse who was in full stride flying on the outside. I thought he was going to get there easy for a minute. To get beat that far after getting impeded. I lost half a stride and I didn’t get beat half a length. “I thought the stewards made the right call. I thought it cost us the nose we lost by.” Gargan conceded there never can be a happy ending for everybody in these situations.  “The [stewards] have to take these down,” Gargan said. “In their defense with me, I’ve been disqualified before and I thought they did the right thing. Everybody’s going to second guess the stewards. Whatever call you make, half the people hate you. “I feel bad for coach [Parcells]. He’s had a rough time lately and he’s a good man. It is racing, and sometimes it can be tough.” Gargan said it meant a lot to him to win a race named after the late Violette, who he admired not only for his accomplishments as a trainer but also as an advocate for horsemen and retired racehorses. :: DRF's 2023 Saratoga headquarters: Previews, past performances, picks, recaps, news, and more. “I’m stabled in Rick’s old barn,” said Gargan. “We have the exact same colors, black and baby blue. The barn is just like it was the last time Rick was in it. Nothing has changed. “I met Rick at Hialeah when I was 18. He did a lot of great things for the game besides being a horse trainer. He was a big influence and created a lot of things that we have nowadays, especially with the retired horses.” As expected, George Weaver, who trains Let’s Go Big Blue, was in total disagreement with the decision to disqualify his horse from victory. “The [number] one horse’s momentum was never stopped, I didn’t see it, I don’t understand it,” an angry Weaver said. “It’s crazy man. It was a horrible call.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.