Drafted's Owners Appeal $26K Purse DQ From Forego

The owners of the sprinter Drafted  have filed an appeal over a $26,000 loss of purse due to a riding-crop infraction from jockey Luis Rodriguez Castro in riding the gelding to a fifth-place finish in the Aug. 27 Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, attorney Andrew Mollica said Sept. 2. A stay pending an appeal has also been requested.

According to Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority rules, horses are disqualified from purse earnings when jockeys commit Class 2 violations in which they strike their mount four to nine strikes above the customary six-strike limit. This disqualification is in addition to sanctions against the rider, which include a minimum three-day suspension and $500 or 20% of the jockey's portion of the purse, whichever is greater.

Drafted, a graded stakes winner for trainer David Duggan and owners Dublin Fjord Stables, Racepoint Stables, Kevin Hilbert, and Thomas O'Keefe, trailed in last place in the field of seven in the Forego before passing two horses in the stretch and finishing 10 3/4 lengths behind victorious Cody's Wish .

Drafted checked in 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Three Two Zone , sixth across the finish line. Sixth-place in the Forego was worth $17,000 and seventh $14,000, according to the Equibase chart.

Drafted is among of a group of horses that have been disqualified from earnings since HISA rules took effect in early July. Instances in which jockeys commit lesser Class 3 violations, one to three strikes over the limit, result in smaller sanctions to the rider and do not result in loss of purse for owners.

Daily Racing Form first reported the appeal by Drafted's owners.

According to Mollica, the owners never had notice of a hearing, unlike, he claims, the rider, who the attorney said he does not represent. 

"They can't just take our money. This has to be addressed because $26,000 today—how about $600,000 someday?" Mollica said. "The ownership group wants me to emphasize that this is about all owners, that this fight needs to be addressed right now, at HISA's infancy, because again, (the owners) had no notice the jockey had a hearing. They didn't even know if this was an issue. How would they know?"

As of late Friday afternoon, no appeal request had been received by HISA from Rodriguez Castro.

"HISA today received an appeal from the ownership group of the horse ridden by Luis Rodriguez Castro relating to an Aug. 27 stewards ruling for violation of HISA's crop rule," a HISA spokesperson said in a statement. "HISA is currently collecting more information about this situation, and is committed to fairness and due process. HISA will follow all appropriate procedures during the impending appeals process."