AN OWNER whose horse finished second has drafted in a lawyer to try to get the result overturned and pocket the £100,000 winner’s prize for himself.
Jeff Drown also wants the official winner of the race to be disqualified because he believes it stopped his horse from coming first due to alleged interference.
#MoDonegal edges a game #Zandon for the W in the Remsen, picking up 10 #KyDerby points for @DonegalRacing, @iradortiz, and @PletcherRacing.
Watch the #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/G7tYDJo7OB
— TwinSpires Racing
(@TwinSpires) December 4, 2021
Drown saw Zandon, his two-year-old colt, finish second by a nose to Mo Donegal in a Grade 2 1m1f race at Aqueduct racecourse on December 4.
But the owner maintains his horse – ridden by John Velazquez – would have won had Mo Donegal not got in the way.
Drown has now filed a protest with the New York State Gaming Commission against the stewards’ decision not to disqualify Mo Donegal.
He believes a bumping incident and the ‘exaggerated’ motion of controversial winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr cost him victory.
Ortiz Jr, a legend of US racing, was banned for 30 days earlier this month after what viewers branded the ‘most dangerous mid-race move ever’.
In this latest instance, Ortiz Jr is alleged to have allowed his left elbow to apparently graze the head of Zandon report Daily Racing Form.
Although stewards determined at the time there was no foul play and any coming together did not affect the outcome of the race.
But Drown told Daily Racing Form: “Certainly, the outcome was affected by how the race was ridden.
“The case against the other rider is fairly clear to people who watched the video.”
Attorney Drew Mollica said of his client’s case: “We’re hopeful the Gaming Commission will see there was a rules violation and there should be a review.
“Zandon was beaten by an inch.
“No way in the world the foul that occurred didn’t cost the horse an inch.”
Zandon earned connections £36,500 for coming second, while winner Mo Donegal won £100,000.
Should the result get overturned and Zandon be named winner, Drown would pocket an additional £63,500.
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