Tale of Ekati Wins Cigar Mile Handicap By Disqualification at Aqueduct November 29; Wanderin Boy Euthanized
Charles Fipke’s Tale of Ekati, ridden by jockey Edgar Prado, won the $300,000 Hill ‘N’ Dale Cigar Mile Handicap by disqualification at Aqueduct on Saturday, November 29.
Trained by Barclay Tagg, Tale of Ekati covered 1 mile in 1:35.01 and paid $19.80, $9.40 and $5.90. Harlem Rocker, under jockey Eibar Coa, placed second and returned $9.70 and $6.30. Bribon with jockey Rajiv Maragh aboard came in third and paid $7.10 to show.
The Cigar Mile Handicap was the fourth stakes victory for Tale of Ekati, all in New York, improving his record to 5-for-12 and increasing his winnings by $180,000.
The 3-year-old Tale of Ekati’s richest victory came in the $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct in April, the win the propelled him into the Triple Crown where he ran fourth in the Kentucky Derby and sixth in the Belmont Stakes while sitting out the Preakness.
Harlem Rocker was first under the wire, a nose in front of Tale of Ekati. The result was reversed, with Harlem Rocker dropped into the place spot following a stewards’ inquiry where it was ruled that Harlem Rocker had come far inside under jockey Eibar Coa’s right-handed stick to briefly block Tale of Ekati and jockey Edgar Prado in the lane.
“Sometimes it happens for me, sometimes it happens for them,” race horse trainer Barclay Tagg said of the disqualification.
“Tale of Ekati had every opportunity to go by our horse,” Harlem Rocker race horse trainer Todd Pletcher said disagreeing with the stewards’ decision. “And, in my opinion, he was never going by. It’s a tough call in a Grade 1 stakes.”
Todd Pletcher said he would consult with race horse owner Frank Stronach about a possible appeal.
Other horses that raced in Aqueduct’s Cigar Mile Handicap in order of finish: Arson Squad, Kodiak Kowboy, Storm Play, Monterey Jazz, Visionaire and Wanderin Boy was pulled up turning for home.
Wanderin Boy, a seven-year-old Seeking the Gold gelding who had a record of 9-6-3 from 24 career starts and earnings in excess of $1.2 million entering Saturday’s race, fractured the sesamoids in his left-front leg and was euthanized.
Tags: Arson Squad, Bribon, Harlem Rocker, Kodiak Kowboy, Monterey Jazz, Storm Play, Tale of Ekati, Visionaire, Wanderin Boy
"Tale of Ekati Wins Cigar Mile Handicap By Disqualification at Aqueduct November 29; Wanderin Boy Euthanized" was posted on 29 November 2008 10:09 PM under Horse Racing News, Horse Racing Results & Payouts, Horses, Race Tracks, Stakes Races
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