Veterinarian voids claim on opening day
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Rudy Rodriguez thought he got lucky when he won a 14-way shake to claim High Tide, a 1 1/4-length winner of Thursday’s third race on opening day at Saratoga. A little while later, he received word that the claim was voided because High Tide was deemed to be lame by the attending veterinarian back at the test barn, according to the stewards.
Thus, the horse was returned to trainer Carlos Martin and M and A Racing.
The voided claim in race 3 was not the first of the card. Bear Valley was claimed for $20,000 out of a sixth-place finish in Saratoga’s first race, but the claim was voided. Bob Klesaris had won a six-way shake to get that one.
Rodriguez thought he made a good claim for $40,000. High Tide won for the third time in six starts this year.
“They ruined the day for me,” Rodriguez said. “Every horse that tries comes back a little beat up. I’m kind of disappointed.”
Trainers can opt to keep a horse when the claim is voided by the veterinarians, but then they have to go through certain protocols before the horse is allowed to race again.
“You have to work the horse back in 10 days,” Rodriguez said. “If [the vet] didn’t like him today, how is he going to like him next week?”