Do Hollywood Park Stewards Drop The Ball?

Race six on Sunday afternoon at Betfair Hollywood Park started with So She Dances dropping jockey Joe Talamo after stumbling at the gate and only got worse from there.



As you can see in the race replay, Branding, with Gary Stevens aboard, was making what appeared to be a winning move in the stretch when she was shut off in between the eventual winner,  Miss Radiance (Alonso Quinonez), and the loose So She Dances.  Track announcer Vic Stauffer said in his race call that Branding was "sawed off by the loose horse...and that you can't claim foul against a loose horse."

However, with the stewards not putting up the inquiry sign and allowing the winners' circle photo to be taken, Stevens claimed foul against Miss Radiance and Quinonez, and with apparent good reason as you can see on the head-on replay that begins at 5:30, it appears that the loose horse wasn't the culprit, but Miss Radiance drifting out into Branding's path under a left-handed whip.  The stewards looked at the head-on replay for approximately four minutes, and despite the apparent video evidence that Miss Radiance had fouled Branding, they ruled that "although Miss Radiance drifted out it did not cost Branding a better placing," and allowed the result to stand.

The stewards' decision caused a social media uproar with Branding's owner Craig Bernick, trainer Tom Proctor, and Stevens (1, 2)  all disagreeing with the stewards' decision via Twitter.  Media members Jay Privman (DRF) and Becky Witzman (HRTV), among others, were also against the call as was owner Samantha Siegel.  Horseplayers were also displeased with tweets like this and this representing the general feeling.  One person was happy, though, that being television and radio personality Jim Rome, whose Jungle Racing LLC owns the mare.

There are issues with this decision.  First, the decision appears to be wrong given the video evidence, and second, the reasoning given, that Branding didn't miss out on a higher placing, is also faulty. Finally, what mechanisms are in place to check this call?  If this was the National Football League,  a supervisor of officials would review the call, and if deemed wrong, the league would issue an apology and the officials would be subject to discipline.  Will that happen in this case?

This final tweet sums up the entire situation for many -

Those Hollywood Park stewards are really on their A-game. #HorseRacingShitNoOneSays

— ShitNobodySaysRacing (@NoOneSaysRacing) July 1, 2013

What do you think?

Weekend Handicapping: The Star's will shine in the Redondo today

Yesterday's Belmont turned out to be an exciting race, with Union Rags getting the rail to open and he took it to win.  In watching the replay, I wasn't sure if it would open and he sure looked pinned in on the rail.  Afterwards,  Mike Smith took the blame for letting it open up and JohnnyV said they got lucky.  No matter what, it was a good race, exciting and happy to see Union Rags back in form.  The stakes schedule is quiet today, so I am going to take a look at the Redondo Beach turf race at Hollywood Park.  It's a mile race for $70,000 for fillies and mares 3YO and upwards. There are eight ladies going forward, so I will have three contenders and one dark horse/bombs away selection.

Contenders:

#7 All Star Heart ML 3/1

She will be making her 5YO debut in this feature race.  Last season she won 5 of 7, including her last race the Las Palmas (G2).  When you look at her PP's you see a tale of two horses here.  Once she came under Ron McAnally tutleage, she ripped off those 5 wins going a mile on grass.  Her Beyer's have been real consistent, she has won once here on the Hollywood turf and has won coming off the bench before.   Her workouts have been spaced nicely and she looks well positioned to take this one.

#6 Star Billing ML 5/2

She too will be making her 2012 debut today as a 4YO.  Her 3YO season resulted in winning 3 of 7, most of those races were graded affairs. She has won twice at this distance, the Senorita (G3) and the Matriarch (G1), both races came at Hollywood Park.  The main reason I've have her in second today, is that in her last break from racing she came up empty at Keeneland. She has been gone for over 6 months and while her workouts look good and Sherreffs does will with layoffs, I think she'll need this one today to find her footing.

#5 A Jealous Woman ML 5/1

She had a great 3YO season winning 4 races, including 2 over the Hollywood grass. Since then she has not done much, winning only once in an Optional Claimer last February.  The key angle here is the jockey switch to Bejarano by Meza and putting her back at a mile.  She is 2 for 4 at this distance and on the board in all 4.  It might be asking a lot today against the group, but she likes to race up front and that might be a difference maker.

Bombs Away:

#8 Good Karma (ITY) ML 12/1

The angle here with this 4YO filly is the following: shipping in and a new trainer in Cecil, jockey switch to Garrett Gomez and keeping her at a mile.  We can see from her results in Italy, she does have talent and often with a change of scenery, especially California, horses like her wake up. It'll be interesting to watch regardless.