Robertson mum despite quibble with Beach Flower disqualification

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Mac Robertson had a minor quibble with the Keeneland stewards the morning after Beach Flower was disqualified Sunday from first to third in the Grade 3 Dowager Stakes, but he has enough experience in racing not to throw a tantrum.

“I thought I had the best horse in the race, and I’m really proud of my filly,” said Robertson, who has won 1,223 races from 5,339 starters and is the all-time leading trainer in Canterbury Park history. “I thought her number probably should’ve stayed up, but nobody likes a crybaby.”

Beach Flower, ridden by Chris Landeros, led throughout the 1 1/2-mile turf race, but was ruled to have impeded English Affair in the stretch run, giving Calumet Farm the official one-two finishers in Vexatious and English Affair.

Beach Flower, a 5-year-old mare, has reached peak form since Robertson added blinkers four starts back.

“I’m not a big blinkers guy, but they’ve really helped her focus,” he said.

Robertson said he likely will back off on Beach Flower and point her to the major filly and mare stakes this coming winter at Oaklawn Park. Likewise, Amy’s Challenge, who was sixth Saturday in the Raven Run following an awkward start, is done racing this year and will be pointed to the Oaklawn meet.

Meanwhile, Landeros was to meet Wednesday with the stewards to determine whether he will be suspended for the disqualification.

Three allowances on tap

With the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes on the Saturday closing-day program the lone remaining stakes race at the Keeneland fall meet, multiple allowances will serve as co-features on the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday cards.

Three allowances dot an eight-race Wednesday card that starts at 1:05 p.m. Eastern, with the richest being a $73,000, third-level race for 3-year-olds and up at seven furlongs. It goes as race 7. The other allowances, each worth $69,000, are both for fillies and mares. They go as races 3 and 6.

Gettysburg in for $20,000

Gettysburg, who served as a regular workmate during the 2017 Horse of the Year campaign for Gun Runner, is entered for a career-low claiming tag of $20,000 in the fifth race Wednesday at Keeneland. Claimed in March for $50,000 by Chris Hartman, the 5-year-old gray has been gelded since finishing a distant ninth in his most recent start last month at Churchill and brings a 1-for-19 record to the 1 1/8-mile race.

Aside from being Gun Runner’s former sparring partner, Gettysburg also is known for setting the pace in the 2016 Belmont Stakes ultimately won by his stretch-running WinStar Farm stablemate Creator.

◗ Through Sunday, favorites are winning at a 28 percent clip (35 for 124) at the fall meet.