Void of two claims is overturned

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The New York State Gaming Commission overturned the Aqueduct stewards’ decision to void two claims made in December by owner Esteban Vargas and trainer Naipaul Chatterpaul. The horses were returned to Chatterpaul’s barn Wednesday.

On Dec. 17, Vargas and Chatterpaul claimed Catch Twenty Two for $50,000 from owner Louis Lazzinarro and trainer Chad Brown, and Milo Milo for $20,000 from owner AJ Racing and trainer Brian Lynch.

Approximately a week after the claims were made, the stewards voided them, alleging that the claim form was not completed accurately. Presumably, Chatterpaul’s signature did not match those on previous claim forms he submitted.

At the request of all parties, a hearing was held by the Gaming Commission, and the hearing officer recommended that the claims should be allowed in part because the previous connections of the horses had not filed their appeal within the 48-hour time frame and that the stewards’ decision to void the claims was not appropriate.

In between the time the claims were made and the decision to reverse the stewards’ ruling was made, Milo Milo ran once, finishing third in a $16,000 claimer.

Chatterpaul said that Milo Milo is sore and that his owner may take further action regarding that horse.

“That’ll be the owner’s decision,” Chatterpaul said. “I’m just training them.”