Thoroughbred misidentified in Quarter Horse race

CYPRESS, Calif. – A 3-year-old Thoroughbred was erroneously allowed to run against Quarter Horses in a 300-yard maiden race at Los Alamitos in April, resulting in a fine for the track’s horse identifier, according to a ruling published this month by track stewards.

The Thoroughbred filly I’m Indy Know was mistakenly identified as the Quarter Horse filly Granich and finished last of seven, beaten five lengths at odds of 19-1, in a $6,250 claiming race April 11. Both fillies are trained by Felix Gonzalez and had not raced prior to April 11, Los Alamitos steward Ruben Moreno said this week.

Los Alamitos runs a nighttime mixed meeting for Quarter Horses and lower-level Thoroughbreds.

In their rulings issued June 7, stewards Moreno, James Dreyer, and George Slender fined horse identifier Juan M. Garcia for failing to properly identify I’m Indy Know and for violations of the duties of the horse identifier.

In addition, Jesus Rendon, the owner of Granich, was ordered to forfeit the $300 the Quarter Horse was credited with earning even though the filly never left her stall. In a ruling ordering the forfeiture of the earnings, the stewards wrote that the “identification markings of [I’m Indy Know] did not agree with the identification markings on the certificate of registration.”

Granich was tattooed well before the race by Garcia, according to Moreno. When I’m Indy Know arrived at the receiving barn before the April 11 race, the filly had not been tattooed but had markings similar to Granich, Moreno said.

“The [Gonzalez] staff brought the wrong horse,” Moreno said. “There were no markings. They were both bays. The trainer was apologetic.”

Gonzalez was not sanctioned. The mistaken identity was discovered after the race, Moreno said.

I’m Indy Know has yet to officially race. Granich was entered in a $2,500 claiming race for maidens at Los Alamitos on June 7 but was scratched.