On Sunday the Gulfstream stewards made one of the most bizarre calls I have ever seen. It defied all logic and explanation.
Kismet’s Heels, under Julien Leparoux, was making a wide rally in the stretch when Frammento, under Tyler Gaffalione, came over on him, causing Julien to take up sharply, lose all momentum, and chance. Maritime Pulpit was also crowded and forced to steady as a result of the incident.
The stewards inquiry went right up, and Leparoux claimed foul. It looked like a no-brainer call on the pan and head-on views. Kismet’s Heels re-rallied and finished fast, winding up third and negating any argument that the incident cost him a better placing.
That is when something odd happened. The Gulfstream stewards disqualified the fourth-place finisher, the Todd Pletcher-trained Vees Boy, stating in their opinion he caused the incident. I am not quite sure how that could be considering he was inside all three horses involved and seemed uninvolved and not affected.
So much for they won’t take down Todd Pletcher. They will, but his horse does not necessarily have to be involved in the infraction I guess.
