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Weekly Rulings: July 11-17

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky.

Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.

New York
Track: N/A
Date: 07/18/2022
Licensee: Juan Vazquez, trainer
Penalty: Suspension
Violation: Reciprocity of suspension for “grossly negligent, cruel and abusive” behavior.
Explainer: Trainer Juan Carlos Vazquez is prohibited from participating in any New York State horse racing activity as his suspension by the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission goes into effect today. During this time, Mr. Vazquez is suspended in New York and cannot enter horses to run at any New York track, including The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) tracks (Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course) or Finger Lakes Race Track. New York is one of 38 racing states that honors out-of-state suspensions issued by regulators. Reciprocity is addressed specifically in N.Y. Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law Section 910: “§ 910. Reciprocity of licenses. All license denials, suspensions and revocations imposed by the pertinent racing and gambling authorities of other jurisdictions, including states, United States territories, and Canadian provinces shall be recognized and enforced by the commission …”

Juarez: Lopez Has `No Regard’ For His Fellow Riders

Though admitting that he deserved his eight-day suspension after being the aggressor in an altercation with Paco Lopez following a July 1 race at Monmouth, Nik Juarez has some choice words for his fellow jockey, calling him “careless and someone who has no regard for his fellow riders.”

Lopez was suspended five days for his ride aboard Midnight Diva (Midnight Lute) in that day's third race. Juarez was suspended for eight days and fined $500 for “initiating a physical confrontation with another jockey.”

According to the footnote of the race, Midnight Diva came out midway on the far turn and impeded Juarez's mount, La Costa (Archarcharch). La Costa clipped heels with Midnight Diva, stumbled badly and was pulled up by Juarez. Midnight Diva crossed the wire third but was disqualified and placed last.

A New Jersey Racing Commission ruling issued July 13 noted that, “Mr. Lopez came out changing paths without sufficient clearance, causing #5 LA COSTA to clip heels and stumble badly, losing all chance.”

Lopez has been suspended numerous times in recent years for careless or rough riding, and Juarez is not the first rider to accuse Lopez of often riding in a reckless manner. The TDN was unable to reach Lopez for comment by deadline for this story.

The fight took place after the race when both riders were at the scales to weigh out.

Juarez had traveled back and forth to Sweden to be there for the birth of his daughter and rushed back to New Jersey to fulfill his riding obligations. He said the travel was difficult and he was frazzled.

“I had, literally, spent 31 hours on planes,” he said. “My daughter was born the day before the incident. My wife is still stuck in Sweden. It was a whirlwind week. Flight cancellations, delays, they lost my bag. It was a nightmare.”

He said his newborn daughter was on his mind when Lopez cut him off.

“He was smirking at me,” Juarez said. “I had just held my baby girl the day before and he just did something that could have cost me my life. He knows what he did and he's done it before. He has no remorse. He never called Romero Maragh in the hospital after he dropped him and the kid broke his neck. I know he would never do anything for me. To know you're riding out there every day with someone like that, it's touchy.”

Juarez said riding against someone like Lopez is like driving on the same road with a dangerous driver.

“Imagine if you are diving to work every day and are driving with the same eight, nine guys every day,” he said. “Just the same people. But you know one guy doesn't give a [expletive]. One day he's going to cut you off, one day he's not. Would you feel safe driving?

Despite his feelings toward Lopez, Juarez said he got what he deserved from the stewards.

“With me, they sent the right message because I deserve my punishment,” Juarez said. “I took things into my own hands and if I did that out on the street there would be repercussions with the authorities. I have to let the authorities do their job. On my end, I think they were fair. I am ashamed of how I acted. What they do with him is out of my control.”

Earlier this year, Lopez was handed a 14-day suspension by the Gulfstream stewards for his ride aboard In Due Time (Not This Time) in the GII Fountain of Youth S., in which two horses fell. In 2019, the Gulfstream stewards hit Lopez with a 30-day suspension for careless riding and causing a spill that resulted in Maragh undergoing surgery for two broken vertebrae and Carlos Montalvo suffering a fractured ankle. In 2021, Lopez got into an altercation with Irad Ortiz Jr. after a roughly run race at Gulfstream. Ortiz was fined $1,000 and both riders were put on probation.

Lopez tops the Monmouth standings with 48 wins. Juarez is in eighth place with 10 wins.

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A Triumphant Return For Bob Baffert

Just like riding a bicycle.

Starting his first horses since serving a 90-day suspension issued by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, trainer Bob Baffert won the two races in which he had entered horses on the Saturday card at Los Alamitos. Baffert's victories included a win by High Connection (Connect) in the Los Alamitos Derby. It was Baffert's sixth straight win in the race that used to be known as the Swaps S. and his 12th overall in the mile-and-an-eighth contest.

Baffert had last started horses on Apr. 2. Afterward, he began serving a suspension, the result of Medina Spirit (Protonico) testing positive for the medication betamethasone in the 2021 GI Kentucky Derby.

Baffert began his afternoon with a win by Rhetoric (Quality Road) in the day's fifth race, a maiden special weight event for 3-year-olds. The Baffert-trained first-time-starter Western Cape (Curlin) finished third behind his stablemate.

“There's nothing like being back and here I am at Los Alamitos,” Baffert said in an interview with TVG following the maiden win. “Everybody has been welcoming me. There have been a lot of well-wishers, people glad to see me back. I'm glad to be back because I really missed it. While I was gone, Sean McCarthy, Jimmy Barnes, the whole team, they did a fantastic job. They kept it together. Here I am and I'm looking forward. I'm getting ready for Del Mar. This is where it all started for me, training quarter horses, so it's always been a special place for me. I'm just glad to be back.”

Despite Baffert's record in the Los Alamitos Derby, the betting public made Slow Down Andy (Nyquist) the favorite for trainer Doug O'Neill. But High Connection, ridden by Juan Hernandez, got past his rival in mid-stretch to prevail. He paid $5.40. Baffert also sent out Doppelganger (Into Mischief) in the race. He finished fourth.

Baffert will have one starter Sunday at Los Alamitos, Spooky Lady (Ghostzapper) in a maiden special weight race for fillies and mares.

Baffert remains ineligible for now to race at Churchill Downs, Churchill Downs-owned tracks and at the NYRA tracks. NYRA and Churchill suspended the trainer, a penalty separate from the Kentucky Racing Commission suspension.

Baffert returned to work on July 3, showing up at his barn at Santa Anita.

“It feels like the first day of school,” Baffert told the Los Angeles Times after his first day back.

Baffert said Barnes, his longtime assistant, was the first to greet him.

“He came over and gave me a big ole hug,” Baffert told the Times. “He said, 'Thank goodness, you're back.' I haven't talked to Jimmy since I left. Our whole barn is like a family, I've known them all for so long.”

Baffert told the Times that most of his owners stood by him during his suspension. He did lose at least one important horse as 2021 2-year-old champ 'TDN Rising Star' Corniche (Quality Road) was transferred to the Todd Pletcher barn.

“I lost some horses. Some owners are still waiting [to see what happens],” he told the Times. “I lost Corniche. That hurt. All in all, I've got great group of owners. They hung there in there with me, they know the truth and the facts.”

Baffert has fought all the charges and allegations thrown his way, but did admit to the Times that he made at least one mistake along the way.

“If I had to do anything different, I wouldn't have had a press conference,” Baffert told the paper. “But it was out there and [the media] was waiting….I was trying to get ahead of it. I was convinced after talking to my veterinarians, that [the positive] was impossible. Then it dawned on them 48 hours later, be careful with the [ointment] Otomax.”

During his absence, most of his horses were trained by his former assistant Tim Yakteen and McCarthy. Racing for Yakteen, Taiba (Gun Runner) won the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby before finishing 12th in the GI Kentucky Derby. Taiba, along with stablemate Pinehurst (Twirling Candy), have been nominated to the GI TVG.com Haskell S. on July 23 at Monmouth Park. Baffert has won the Haskell nine times.

Baffert can also begin to focus on the upcoming Del Mar meet, where he normally unveils what is always a well-stocked arsenal of 2-year-old talent. Baffert had 20 winners at last year's summer meet at Del Mar, finishing second in the standings behind Peter Miller, who had 26 wins.

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NYRA and Vitali Reach Undisclosed Agreement

The New York Racing Association and trainer Marcus Vitali have reached a settlement regarding NYRA's effort to exclude the trainer from participating at its three tracks. According to NYRA spokesman Pat McKenna, the agreement requires that the terms of the settlement remain confidential.

The TDN reached out to both Vitali's attorney Brad Bielly Friday in an attempt to gather more information. By mid-afternoon, he had not responded. Vitali told the TDN that he was not aware of the terms of the deal.

In September, NYRA announced that it would begin the process of taking action against Vitali, alleging that the trainer had “engaged in conduct that is detrimental to the best interests of the sport of Thoroughbred racing or potentially injurious to the health or safety of horses or riders. Further, as detailed in the respective statements of charges, this conduct warrants revocation or suspension of their right to train horses, enter races, or engage in any racing-related activity at all NYRA properties including Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.”

In an official “statement of charges issued against Vitali, NYRA pointed to what it alleged was a long and lengthy list of suspensions and medication violations.

“From between in or about 2010 and in or about 2020, Respondent amassed an extensive record of medication violations, lengthy suspensions, improperly using 'program' or 'paper' trainers during suspensions and obstructing an investigation into alleged wrongdoing,” the statement read. “In the past five years, Respondent was denied entry, ejected and/or had license applications denied by regulators of Thoroughbred racing in Florida, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York and Delaware; and was sanctioned by the Jockey Club for violating a racing statute, rule or regulation relating to prohibited or restricted drugs, medications or substances seven times in a single year.”

Since the original statement of charges was issued, things have only gotten worse for Vitali. In February, he was hit with a one-year suspension by the Pennsylvania Racing Commission after a horse he trained allegedly tested positive for methamphetamine. Vitali appealed the suspension and has continued to train. With several tracks not accepting entries from his stable, he has raced primarily at Presque Isle Downs and Turf Paradise.

Vitali rarely runs in New York, but did have a starter at last year's Saratoga meet. He sent out Red Venus (Candy Ride {Arg}), who finished seventh in a $50,000 claimer.

As was the case with Bob Baffert, who was also issued a “statement of charges” in September, NYRA was required due to a court ruling to hold a hearing into the Vitali matter before it could take any action against the trainer. The hearing was originally scheduled for March 1, but was delayed. With Friday's announcement, a hearing is no longer necessary.

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