Appeal Filed Over Sword Dancer Decision

Kirk Wycoff of Three Diamonds Farm Aug. 29 filed an appeal to the New York State Gaming Commission regarding the decision of the stewards to take no action against longshot Inordinate in the Aug. 27 Sword Dancer Stakes  (gr. IT) at Saratoga Race Course, a race won by Inordinate's stablemate, odds-on favorite Flintshire.

Wycoff is the owner of Roman Approval, the sixth-place finisher who was running in second, alongside Inordinate, at the top of the stretch. Jockey Aaron Gryder, who had Inordinate along the hedge in the turf event, looked back over his left shoulder, saw Flintshire and Javier Castellano behind him, and steered Inordinate into the path of Roman Approval, giving Juddmonte Farm's Flintshire running room to the wire.

Mike Maker, trainer of Roman Approval, immediately lodged an objection against Inordinate. The stewards disallowed the claim, and in their report on the New York Racing Association website said that "no action was warranted." Wycoff disagrees.

"I was very disappointed in the stewards' decision not to take down Inordinate," Wycoff said by telephone. "He took a right turn into our horse."

Wycoff also contends that Gryder did not, as required by New York's rules of racing, ride to win the race. He cited rule 4035 (2) (a), under which a horse can be disqualified if his jockey was willful or careless, or may have altered the finish of the race.

He also pointed to rule 4035.4, which stipulates that all horses are required to "give their best efforts" and that instructions to jockeys to ride their mounts "otherwise than for the purpose of winning" are not permitted and subject to disciplinary action by the stewards.

"Money Multiplier had first run and would have won if the hole hadn't opened up for Flintshire," said Wycoff, who acknowledged that's a judgment call. "Aaron Gryder didn't ride to win, and he rode carelessly, endangering my horse, my jockey, and everyone else in the race."

Wycoff said he has not yet heard from the NYSGC regarding the status of his appeal. The commission did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.

Should the appeal be successful, it potentially could impact the victory by Flintshire under New York racing rules that say, "If any horses trained by the same trainer race uncoupled in any race, and one or more of them shall be disqualified for violation of the rules of racing, any other horses entered by that same trainer shall also be disqualified if in the judgment of the stewards such violation prevented any other horse or horses from finishing ahead of the other part of the entry. If said violation is without such effect upon the finish of the race, penalty therefore may be applied against the offender only."