Uncle Vinny, Magna Light Fine After Sanford

Uncle Vinny and Magna Light, respective first-and third-place finishers in the Sanford Stakes (gr. III) July 25 emerged in good shape from a contentious running of the six-furlong sprint for 2-year-olds at Saratoga Race Course.

 

Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, Magna Light crossed the wire first in the Sanford, but was disqualified to third after the stewards ruled the bay colt interfered with Percolator in the stretch.

 

"He looks good, he looks pretty happy. He still thinks he won," Rodriguez said. "In our mind, the horse won the race, but unfortunately they took us down. It's tough. We work very hard to get these horses to the point they are. To take him down like that, it's hard."

 

Coming off a 4 1/2-length debut win in an off-the-turf race at Belmont Park, Magna Light veered out abruptly in midstretch of the Sanford and then drifted back in after Jose Ortiz tried to correct the wayward colt, causing Percolator to steady lightly, before being passed late by Uncle Vinny.

 

As a result of the incident, Percolator was moved from third to second, while Uncle Vinny was awarded the victory.

 

 

"He's a baby," Rodriguez said of Magna Light, a son of Magna Graduate   campaigned by a partnership that includes Bethlehem Stables and Michael Dubb. "It was just his second time, at Saratoga—a lot  of lights, a lot of cameras. Jose hit him a couple times, maybe he saw something and reacted. He was very professional (the) first time. It's a shame. I thought we had the best horse in the race and he showed he was the best. If Jose didn't hit him, maybe he wins by three or four lengths."

 

Todd Pletcher, trainer of Uncle Vinny, was magnanimous speaking from his shedrow Sunday morning.

 

"I really don't get enjoyment or satisfaction out of those kinds of situations, like you would when they cross the finish line first," Pletcher said. "Any of us that have been in the business very long have been on both sides of those, so we know how much it hurts when you're the one disqualified. I feel bad for the connections (of Magna Light). Their horse ran a really powerful race and looks like a nice horse."

 

Uncle Vinny was making his third career start Saturday. Following a 4 1/2-length debut victory at Belmont, the son of Uncle Mo   encountered trouble in the Tremont Stakes and finished sixth, before making a wide, sustained rally in the Sanford to hit the wire second.

 

"I was very pleased with the way he ran," said Pletcher, who trains the colt for Starlight Racing. "I think he's a colt that's still learning and figuring things out. He made a couple subtle mistakes in the race that maybe cost him crossing the finish line first. With every experience, he's improving a bit and getting a little more professional. He's got some talent and he's finishing his races well. Hopefully the longer he goes, the stronger he'll get."

 

Magna Light and Uncle Vinny may have the chance to square off again during Saratoga's 147th meet. According to both trainers, the $350,000 Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 7 is a possibility for their next race.