Most Safety survives inquiry in Haskell win

OCEANPORT, N.J. — Most Safety captured the $1 million Haskell Invitational and, in contrast to the Kentucky Derby, survived a steward’s inquiry Saturday night time.

It capped an extended day that included a serious delay triggered by intense warmth and the protection considerations for the horses and riders. It led to the cancellation of six races and the delay in six stakes, together with the Haskell, the most important race in Monmouth’s meet.

When racing resumed round 6 p.m., the stakes went off with out a hitch till the Haskell.

Most Safety received to the end line first, outlasting coach Bob Baffert’s Mucho Gusto by 1¼ lengths.

For a minute, it appeared a clear-cut win within the Grade I race. Nonetheless, the stewards posted the inquiry signal. Videotape replays confirmed King for a Day needed to verify when Most Safety and Mucho Gusto stormed previous.

Nonetheless, it was shortly dismissed, in contrast to the Derby when there was a 22-minute delay earlier than Nation Home was elevated to the highest spot and Most Safety was dropped to 17th place. It was the primary time a horse that crossed the end line first within the Derby was disqualified.

Homeowners Gary and Mary West are nonetheless attempting to overturn that call in federal courtroom in Kentucky.

This was probably the most weird days within the 52-year historical past of the Haskell and it was simply one other bizarre twist within the Three-year-old thoroughbred image which has had one unusual flip after one other.

Most Safety’s win within the Haskell Invitational capped an extended day that included a serious delay triggered by intense warmth and the protection considerations for the horses and riders. Invoice Denver/EQUI-PHOTO through AP

There was the Kentucky Derby disqualification. A riderless horse within the Preakness. Three totally different winners of the Triple Crown races.

The most recent flip got here Saturday as the acute temperature and a warmth index worth reaching 107 — precipitated monitor officers to a order a four 1/2-hour delay after the operating of the primary two races on the 14-race card.

The Haskell went off at eight:11 p.m., 2 hours, 24 minutes after its scheduled begin. The sphere was decreased to 6 horses when third-place Belmont States finisher Joevia scratch after the delay.

The 1⅛-mile race was excellent. King for a Day, who beat Most Safety within the Pegasus right here final month, and the 4 of the opposite 5 colts have been carefully bunched for the early going with solely Everfast trailing.

Across the far flip, Most Safety and jockey Luis Saez and Mucho Gusto and rider Joe Talamo charged round King for a Day, who was on the rail.

Most Safety was within the center lane with Mucho Gusto on the skin. As they turned for house, Most Safety appeared to place King for a Day and jockey John Velazquez in tight quarters. The one query was whether or not King for a Day dedicated a foul or King for a Day ran out of room as he tried to cost up the rail.

There was no change this time. The Jason Servis-trained Most Safety coated the gap in 1:47.56 and paid $Three.60, $2.60 and $2.20.

Mucho Gusto returned $Three.40 and $2.80. Spun To Run completed third and paid $5.60 to point out.

For the second straight day, the Nationwide Climate Service posted an extreme warmth warning advisory Saturday, with close to regular temperatures within the decrease 90s in Monmouth County. The warmth index values reached 107. It dipped to 103 by the point racing resumed.

Animal rights activists protested outdoors the New Jersey Shore monitor earlier than the primary race was to run.

Dennis Drazin, chairman and chief govt of Darby Growth, operators of Monmouth Park, mentioned a bunch of monitor, state and impartial veterinarians monitored the warmth for days and felt it was secure to race.

“Nonetheless, given the heightened concern from the general public in regards to the warmth, and within the curiosity of the protection of the horses and jockeys, we have determined to proceed with an abundance of warning, to cancel the remaining nonstakes races and to delay the six stakes races,” he mentioned.

Not one of the horses who competed within the eight races run confirmed any signal of harm.

Drazin mentioned he had been involved with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. The governor left the ultimate resolution on whether or not to run to Drazin. He opted for warning in delaying the cardboard, fearing hurt to the horses and business if there have been a dying.

With racing beneath stress due to many horse deaths horses in California, most East coast tracks on Friday canceled their Saturday playing cards, together with Saratoga Race Course.

“It might have created extra momentum to the disaster that already exists due to California issues,” Drazin mentioned of a potential dying of a horse. “We’re on the cusp of a disaster within the business.”

A crowd of 37,186 attended final 12 months’s Haskell, and one other massive crowd was anticipated Saturday for Monmouth Park’s largest racing day. When the announcement got here of canceled races and the delayed stakes, followers streamed to the exits. The monitor introduced an attendance of 25,173 however many left earlier than the massive races.

Drazin mentioned no resolution had been made on easy methods to compensate followers who paid for admission and parking. The monitor canceled its card deliberate for Sunday.

NBC was going to televise the Haskell reside when it had a 5:47 p.m. submit time, however it ended up streaming the race reside on its digital platform.

Midnight Bisou gained her fifth straight stakes this 12 months, capturing the $150,000 Molly Pitcher with Mike Smith using.

In different stakes, Simply Howard edged Divisidero by a head within the $150,000 Oceanport; Justaholic ($5) gained the $75,000 Wolf Hill; Conflict Story ($16) took the $200,000 Monmouth Cup and I am So Fancy ($5.80) captured the $150,000 WinStar Matchmaker.