Sword Zorro's disqualification gives Zoffarelli victory in La Jolla
DEL MAR, Calif. - Zoffarelli was promoted from second to first in Sunday’s Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar after race winner Sword Zorro was disqualified for causing interference in the final furlong.
Sword Zorro finished a nose in front of Zoffarelli, who was a head in front of Hudson Ridge in a tight finish in the $150,500 race for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf. After a seven-minute inquiry, the stewards demoted Sword Zorro from first to third for drifting to the outside, and causing a chain reaction of bumping that affected Zoffarelli and Hudson Ridge.
Zoffarelli, ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, was fifth on the backstretch and emerged between Sword Zorro and Hudson Ridge to reach contention in the stretch.
“I was looking for room the whole way,” Van Dyke said.
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Sword Zorro “was drifting out from the eighth pole to the wire,” Van Dyke said. “Near the sixteenth pole, he really came out and that bump cost me. It caused me to bump” Hudson Ridge.
Sword Zorro (6-1) was timed in 1:42.27. Zoffarelli ($17.80) was the longest shot in a field of six. Sword Zorro and Zoffarelli earned Beyer Speed Figures of 82. Hudson Ridge, winner of the Cinema Stakes at Santa Anita in June, was the 8-5 favorite.
Wyfire finished fourth, followed by Stilleto Boy and Cathkin Peak.
Stilleto Boy set the pace, but faded in the final furlong. Sword Zorro, ridden by Umberto Rispoli, took the lead in the final furlong despite drifting out.
Zoffarelli had his American debut in the La Jolla Handicap, the Irish-bred gelding’s first start for Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal and trainer Jeff Mullins. Zoffarelli had seven starts in England in 2020 and earlier this year for trainer Ralph Beckett, winning once and finishing second five times.
The La Jolla Handicap was Zoffarelli’s stakes debut. The first three finishers are likely to meet again in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 4.
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