Owners Dean and Patti Reeves, whose Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Brick Ambush was disqualified from second and placed last in a highly controversial decision by stewards last Saturday at Aqueduct in South Ozone Park, N.Y., will not pursue legal action, they indicated in a statement issued on Tuesday by attorney Drew Mollica.
Brick Ambush was racing on the outside turning into the stretch of the Great White Way Division of the $500,000 New York Stallions Series, when several horses to his inside were involved in a bumping incident that appeared to be caused when eventual winner Antonio of Venice came off the rail while tracking behind the front-running Heavyweight Champs.
The inquiry light indicated stewards were looking into the actions of Antonio of Venice, ridden by Manny Franco, but after a lengthy delay opted instead to disqualify runner-up Brick Ambush, who was ridden by Junior Alvarado and appeared to be clear of the incident.
Mollica, on behalf of the Reeves, filed an appeal of the decision with the New York State Gaming Commission, as did the connections of fourth-place finisher The Big Torpedo, whose jockey, Javier Castellano lodged a claim of foul that apparently was not relayed to the stewards.
The appeals were denied on Monday by the NYSGC, which said judgment calls by stewards cannot be appealed, making the disqualification final. Braulio Baeza Jr., the steward with the most authority by virtue of his employment with the NYSGC, had previously told Daily Racing Form's David Grening Brick Ambush “caused the pressure” that led to the incident. The other two stewards are employed by the New York Racing Association and The Jockey Club.
“We would like to thank the racing community for all their support and encouragement as a result of this disqualification.”
The disqualification relegated Brick Ambush from a $100,000 payday for finishing second to a $2,142 purse. Had Antonio of Venice been disqualified and Brick Ambush declared the winner, first place money of $275,000 would have been awarded to the Reeves.
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