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Placing Judges Post Incorrect Winner At Kentucky Downs; Mistake Caught Before Race Made Official

Placing judges at Kentucky Downs racetrack in Franklin, Ky., posted the incorrect order of finish in the third race on Wednesday's closing-day program, declaring Tiz Splendid News (No. 8) the unofficial winner and Sir Roberto (No. 1) the second-place finisher in the 6 1/2 furlong grass race for 2-year-old maidens.

Sir Roberto, on the outside, finished a nose in front of Tiz Splendid News, as the photo finish clearly indicates – not the other way around. Fortunately, the error was caught before the race was made official. Six minutes after the incorrect order (8-1-5-2) was posted by officials, track announcer Larry Collmus (whose live call of the race predicted Sir Roberto as the winner) announced the correct order: 1-8-5-2.

Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode the Wesley Ward-trained Tiz Splendid News into the winner's circle, subsequently lodged a claim of foul after learning his horse did not win. That claim of foul was disallowed.

Following is a statement from the stewards posted on the Kentucky Downs website:

After the running of race 3 the placing judges posted the order of finish as 8-1-5-2. Upon their discovery that their initial posting was incorrect, and prior to the race being posted official, the placing judges notified the stewards of the correct order of finish which was then posted as 1-8-5-2. An objection that was lodged by the rider of second place #8 “Tiz Splendid News” (Irad Ortiz, Jr.) alleging interference by the rider of the unofficial winner #1 “Sir Roberto” (Gabriel Saez) was then entertained by the stewards who reviewed the race replay, interviewed the riders and determined that the slight contact that occurred approaching the wire was mutual and therefore did not warrant a disqualification. The race was then posted official with the correct order of finish as they had originally crossed the finish line.
1-8-5-2.

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‘Quirky’ Theodora B. Wires Kentucky Downs’ TVG Stakes For Dickinson

Augustin Stable's homebred Ghostzapper mare Theodora B. held off a late charge by favored Mrs. Sippy to win the $500,000 TVG Stakes at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky., for fillies and mares by three-quarters of length while never seriously threatened by the closing favorite Mrs. Sippy over a course rated good.

“She's a really incredible filly, a little on the quirky side,” said Fenella O'Flynn, who serves as an assistant trainer, van driver and whatever needs done for Maryland-based trainer Michael Dickinson. “But she's a really, really nice filly. She trained lovely here the last couple of days. We had to stay the extra couple of days of course, but it was better for her. We traveled here and we'll travel again tomorrow to Tapeta Farm.”

Guided by Irad Ortiz, Jr. while well off the rail, 3-1 second betting choice Theodora B. set the pace with slow fractions of 26.23 seconds for the first quarter-mile, 51.32 seconds for the half, and 1:15.85 for six furlongs. Mrs. Sippy, sent off as the 9-10 favorite under Joel Rosario, bided her time in fourth, fifth and then sixth of six starters while around four lengths back heading down the hill at the top of the backstretch.

Turning for home, Theodora B. had registered a mile in 1:39.78 and was still in front with Mrs. Sippy fifth by 2 1/2 lengths. Theodora B. dug in with gas still in the tank to hit the finish line first.

“She broke really good,” said Ortiz, the reigning Eclipse Award jockey who pulled within two wins of Tyler Gaffalione's meet-leading eight for the riding title with only Wednesday's card remaining. “She broke in front. I didn't want to fight with her too much. She relaxed going up the hill, going down the hill, waiting for me. When I called, she was there.”

Reached by phone, Dickinson said he was looking at three stakes for Theodora B. but opted for Kentucky Downs because of the 1 5/16-mile distance. In her last start, the 5-year-old mare led all the way to take Woodbine's Grade 2 Dance Smartly. She could return to Woodbine for the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor, for which this stakes has produced three winners.

Theodora B. now has six wins from 18 starts with five seconds and three thirds. With $306,900 in purse money she collected, her career earnings stand at $647,911.

Delta's Kingdom, the longest-odds starter in the field at 15-1, was second until upper stretch and checked in third, another two lengths back. She was followed by English Affair, Siberian Iris and Over Thinking, who was unable to overcome a slow start. The winning time for 1 5/16 mile was 2:09.72 on a course rated good.

Theodora B. paid $8.20 to win, $3.20 to place and $2.80 to show. Mrs. Sippy returned $2.40 and $2.20, while Delta's Kingdom's $2 show tickets were worth $3.40.

Dickinson, who invented the Tapeta all-weather racing surface that is being installed at Turfway Park, was not at the track. The horseman whose reputation surged when called the Mad Genius by turf writer Bill Finley — and who became immortalized when Dickinson objected to being called a genius — is famous in racing circles for having a female associate walk the course in stiletto heels to check out the turf.

O'Flynn said she walked the course twice.

“The first time after the rain. It wasn't so bad. I'm glad it stopped Sunday morning,” she said. “It had nearly two days to dry out. I walked it again yesterday it was better and today was perfect. The turns are just a little bit soft but we got over that.”

And no, she didn't wear stilettos. “He (Dickinson) actually asked me if I had them with me,” she said. “I said I didn't. He said he was going to overnight them to me. But I said I didn't get them. But it was perfect, and she ran brilliant.”

Dickinson pointed out that Theodora B. was carrying four pounds more, 126-122, than her rivals.

“She was nervous as a young horse,” he said. “She lost a couple of races in the paddock in her younger days. So it's taken her a bit of time to grow up.”

Asked if he was a great fit for a quirky horse, Dickinson paused and said, “Do I understand her? Well, does anybody really understand women and horses? Maybe there are some, but I'm not one of them.”

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Point Of Entry Filly Emro Takes Untapable Stakes At Kentucky Downs

Kueber Racing's Emro, who won her debut at Ellis Park, ran her record to 2-for-2 in taking the $400,000 Untapable Stakes at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky., a race for 2-year-old fillies the daughter of Point of Entry captured in dominant fashion by 2 3/4 lengths over Taylor's Tourist after a strong stretch run from off the pace under Shaun Bridgmohan.

“I was very proud of her,” said winning trainer Brad Cox. “She's been training well, obviously. She got it done first time out, and we've been pointing for this since she broke her maiden. Very, very happy with the performance and Shaun did a good job.”

After breaking cleanly from the far outside post 11 in the 6 1/2-furlong race on the turf, Emro was reserved in sixth position by Bridgmohan down the hill, 7 1/2 lengths from the front, into the sweeping turn. As the bunched field turned for home, Emro was six wide and 4 1/2 lengths off the pace but made short work of her competition from there. She narrowly led with an eighth of a mile remaining and prevailed by 2 3/4 lengths going away over a course rated good.

“They looked like they were going a little quick and they were spread out around the turn,” said Cox, who on Saturday won the $1-million, Grade 3 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup with Arklow. “So I thought, well, they were going quick enough and we were laying in the middle of the pack, so I thought we were in a good spot. Then when she came off the turn, it looked like when Shaun asked her to pick it up, she wanted to duck in behind a horse. He straightened her up. She ran on, looks like she was clearing off and then she dropped back in. Obviously still green and has a lot to learn, but very talented filly that we think has a big future.”

The 7-1 fourth betting choice, Emro was timed in 1:16.31. Emro rocketed her earnings from $25,800 to $261,400 after adding the winner's share of $235,600. The final value of the race was $398,500.

“She ran very well, very talented filly,” Bridgmohan said. “She's 2 for 2. Last time she went to the lead. Today she came from off it. It shows her versatility. She ran a nice race.”

Taylor's Tourist, who was 10th and last at the first call under Florent Geroux, proceeded to pass every horse in the field but one. Behind her at the finish in third, beaten 5 3/4 lengths, was early pacesetter Fouzia, who was a neck better than Mad Maddy in fourth. Initial fractions were a torrid 21.48 seconds for the first quarter-mile and 45.15 seconds for four furlongs.

“She ran big,” Geroux said of Taylor's Tourist, who had won her debut by 9 3/4 lengths at Louisiana's Evangeline Downs. “She ran a pretty fast race first time out. But that was dirt. Now she switched to the turf, nobody really knew if she was going to like it. She's a very nice filly, galloped out strong. She was a little bit lost the first quarter-mile, couldn't get out and involved in the race. But she finished very nice.”

The top four were followed in order by Lady Edith, Lady Goldstart, 9-5 favorite Red Ghost, Herald Angel, Kewpie Doll and Becca's Bouquet. The field of 11 was effectively reduced to 10 when La Libertee stumbled badly leaving the gate, unseating Adam Beschizza.

“I'm fine,” Beschizza said back at the jockeys' room. As far as what happened, “I have no idea. Sometimes they don't catch themselves properly. She's a 2-year-old. She's a very sharp 2-year-old. She's always ready at any given moment. She probably rushed the start a little bit and couldn't catch any of her legs. Listen, she's got a bright little year ahead of her, what's left of it. She seemed to be unscathed, touch wood. She didn't go crazy running loose by herself.”

Payoffs were ample, with Emro rewarding her $2 backers $16.80 to win, $9.00 to place and $7.40 to show. Taylor's Tourist paid $21.20 and $14.60 to place and show, and Fouzia returned $8.40 to show.

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Honor Roll Presented By The Runhappy Meet At Kentucky Downs: Ms Bad Behavior Has Been All Good For Hubbard

With offspring like One Bad Boy and Ms Bad Behavior, it would be easy to assume that trouble runs in the family of the Stormy Atlantic mare Cumulonimble.

Far from it.

One Bad Boy, the younger of the two half-siblings – both of whom were foaled in Ontario – was a $65,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase by bloodstock agent Brooke Hubbard on behalf of Sayjay Racing in 2017. The Twirling Candy colt traveled north of the border to win last year's Queen's Plate, the most important horse race for Canadian-breds. Through seven career starts, One Bad Boy has earned $556,732.

Hubbard had some inside information while shopping at Keeneland in 2017. One Bad Boy's older half-sister by Blame, Ms Bad Behavior, showed promise in a pair of 2-year-old maiden races in California for trainer Richard Baltas just before the September auction. She had purchased him for Sayjay and Greg Hall for $75,000 at the 2016 Keeneland September Sale.

Ms Bad Behavior would go on fulfill that promise in an 18-race career that would include four wins, seven seconds and three third-place finishes over three seasons. She would retire with earnings of $502,251.

Foremost among the wins was her lone graded stakes victory in 2019 at 7-1 odds in the Grade 3 Three Chimneys Ladies Turf Stakes at Kentucky Downs. Ridden by Jose Ortiz, Ms Bad Behavior controlled the pace, drawing off late to defeat 11-10 favorite Mitchell Road by 1 1/2 lengths.

Even though she didn't qualify for Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund purse enhancements, the Ladies Turf Stakes win was worth $180,420, her richest payday.

Both One Bad Boy and Ms Bad Behavior were trained in Southern California by Richard Baltas and raced for the partnership of Sayjay Racing, Greg Hall and Brooke Hubbard.

One Bay Boy remains in training: he finished fourth Aug. 29 in a Del Mar allowance race, his first start since running third in the Canadian Triple Crown's middle leg, the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie on July 23, 2019.

Ms Bad Behavior was entered in Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's November Sale last year, bringing a final bid of $600,000 from Australia-based Freyer Bloodstock.

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