Delaware Jock Gets 15 Days for ‘Failure to Give Best Effort’

Jockey Raul E. Mena is appealing a 15-day suspension and $1,000 fine imposed by the Delaware Park stewards after a “failure to give best effort” ruling was lodged against him following a last-place finish aboard a 1-for-19 filly who trailed at every call in a $5,000 NW2L claiming sprint June 28.

Sarah Crane, the executive director of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission (DTRC), confirmed in an email that Mena, 31, has been granted a stay of his penalties until a Sept. 19 hearing.

But Crane declined an opportunity to address questions about to the severity of the stewards' penalties in relation to the recent poor form of the filly Mena rode: In each of her previous three starts, Harper's Do (Straight Talking) had finished next to last at Laurel Park and Charles Town, and had been beaten 63 combined lengths.

In two of those efforts, Harper's Do had earned a Beyer Speed Figure of zero, which matches the figure she earned again on June 28 when she finished seventh, beaten 26 lengths, under Mena.

“Best for me to hold any comments while matter is under appeal,” Crane wrote when TDN queried about any mitigating circumstances.  “I saw no valid reason not to grant a stay of suspension.”

TDN could not immediately reach Mena for comment.

Owned and trained by Mario Serey, Jr., Harper's Do went off at 6-1 odds under Mena, who was riding her for the first time in the eighth and final race of the afternoon at Delaware June 28.

Harper's Do came out of the gate seventh and last, then was guided to the eight path under a light hold. The filly dropped so far back that she was mostly out of the pan shot from the half-mile pole to the wire, with the head-on camera showing her a long way last while traveling five wide around the turn and in the six path through the home straight. The Equibase chart caller's comment stated that Harper's Do “broke slowly, fell far back, raced wide and was not urged.”

The stewards' report for that race listed on the DTRC website noted that Harper's Do was selected for “special” post-race testing. But otherwise, the three stewards-Joelyn Rigione, Robert Colton and William Troilo-described the race as, “Good start for all, no incidents to report.”

The July 4 ruling, however, noted that the stewards had also ordered a “soundness evaluation” and that Harper's Do had “jogged sound after the eighth race on June 28, 2023, per the Test Barn Veterinarian.”

After reviewing the films of the race with Mena on July 1 and “considering his testimony,” the stewards then imposed the “failure to give best effort” penalties. Prior to Mena's appeal, his suspension had been slated to start July 13.

Mena has compiled a 12-for-77 riding record with $259,965 in earnings this year. His season started late, on Apr. 16, because he was recovering from a fractured left femur sustained in a Tampa Bay Downs racing accident on Dec. 7, 2022.

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Mychel Sanchez, Suspended for Betting Against His Mounts, Returns at Delaware Park

Nearly five months after beginning a suspension for betting against his own mounts, jockey Mychel Sanchez returned to action Wednesday, riding in the second race at Delaware Park. Sanchez finished eighth aboard XY Lady (Sharp Azteca) in the race for 2-year-old maiden fillies. He is also listed on mounts on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday cards at Delaware.

Sanchez last rode Jan. 19 at Parx. Shortly after that, the Pennsylvania Racing Commission handed him a 60-day suspension after it was discovered that during a betting spree he made wagers on horses other than his own mounts on races at Parx and at Laurel. The Maryland Racing Commission also suspended Sanchez for 60 days, with the days running concurrently with the Pennsylvania suspension.

When the suspensions ended in March, Sanchez apparently had a difficult time finding a track that would allow him to ride. At the time, attorney Alan Pincus confirmed to the TDN that Parx officials would not accept entries where Sanchez was listed to ride. 1/ST Racing, which operates Laurel and Pimlico, announced that Sanchez had been banned indefinitely.

Sanchez's name first reappeared in the entries when he was listed on horses for the June 10 card at Delaware, but he was replaced on each of those mounts.

Calls and emails made Wednesday to Delaware Racing Commission Executive Director Sarah Crane went unanswered. Pincus did not return a phone call seeking to clarify Sanchez's status.

While admitting that his client had bet against himself, Pincus said that Sanchez had done so as an outlet to battle depression. He said that Sanchez, in all cases, tried to win, even when he had bet on another horse.

“It was clear he was giving his best effort,” Pincus said. “He was not fixing races. He won several of the races in which he bet against his horses. The horse paid $37 in one race, $27 in another. He was just doing something crazy that only a psychiatrist can explain.”

The TDN, through a Freedom of Information Law request, acquired the records of Sanchez's betting activity that were reviewed by the Pennsylvania Racing Commission. The betting log covers the period of Dec. 23 of last year through Jan. 3, during which time Sanchez placed 104 bets on his TVG account. From those 104, there were only six races in which he made significant bets against himself. Whether he was involved in a race or not, he was betting heavily. In one instance, he made a $2,000 win, place and show bet on a race at Laurel, betting on his mount, Johnny Sack (Mosler). He lost all $6,000 as Johnny Sack finished sixth.

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Jockey Vince Halliday Remains In The Intensive Care Unit After Delaware Spill

Irish native Vince Halliday remains in critical condition on Tuesday at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Del., following a spill at Delaware Park on July 15.

Halliday was riding the filly Tua in a $10,000 maiden claiming race, the last race on the day's card. According to Delaware Park steward Robert Colton, near the final turn of the six-furlong race, Halliday and Tua were running just back of two horses, Hot Tail and Normalizeddeviance. When Normalizeddeviance changed leads, her hindquarters drifted slightly into Tua's running lane. Tua then clipped her heels and fell, somersaulting before getting up and running riderless until the track maintenance crew caught her. Halliday fell to the track and then was hurdled by another horse, Commission Actress. Jockey Augusto Marin was unseated when Commission Actress jumped but came away from the incident with no significant injuries.

Halliday's wife Stephanie Pastore shared news of her husband's current condition as he remains in the Intensive Care Unit on Tuesday.

“Vince remains in the ICU at Christiana Hospital,” Pastore wrote. “His brain bleeds have stabilized, however he still has not gained the ability to use his arms. The injuries to Vince's neck and lungs have made it very difficult to breathe on his own. Doctors have had no choice [but] to intubate to keep his Oxygen levels up. He is unable to speak or swallow on his own.

“Attempts to remove the breathing tube have been unsuccessful. Additional MRIs have shown multiple fractures to vertebrae and an additional fracture in his sternum.”

Sarah Crane, executive director of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission, added: “His wife Stephanie has been at his side and is relentless in aiding his recovery and encouraging Vince to stay strong. Vince is very frustrated that he cannot move his arms, speak, or breathe on his own. Vince was able to nod at letters in the alphabet to communicate, anyone that know Vince will not be surprised to learn that he asked about the well-being of 'Tua' the filly that fell with him, Vince was happy to learn she will be okay.

“Vince and Stephanie are grateful for the support and the outpouring of love for Vince. Please continue to Pray for Vince and Stephanie during this difficult time.”

The GoFundMe page for Halliday's recovery can be accessed here.

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