Wrist Slap

Tweet The New York State Racing and Wagering Board obviously didn't take any lessons from the nuns from my St. Rose of Lima (see knuckle scars). They handed out a measly seven day suspension to trainer Jeff Mullins in addition to a $2,500 fine. This is basically a slap on the wrist "as a result of his administering the medication Air Power to Gato Go Win prior that colt's scheduled start in the Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct on April 4." Sounds like they took a page out from the NCAA Sanctioning Committee on this one. Right when the industry can take a stand, and NTRA CEO bantering around about his Safety & INTEGRITY Alliance, this is the penalty that is doled out? Chicken change for a high powered trainer. Reduced from 15 days because of Mullins waived his right of appeal, it will be served starting the first Sunday in May, and will not deter a whole helluva lot from any of his training time of potential Derby favorite I Want Revenge. Basically it's like suspending a pitcher for a game when he's not pitching. Whatever. It's par for the course.

I watched the stakes races from Charles Town last night on my TwinSpires TV account and there were some great races to watch. I started with the sixth, as Western NY-based Bella Cavello Stables (and EquiSpace favorite) La Chica Rica was racing in a $55K Opequan Handicap and she fared very well finishing second behind Savethebestforlass with Gerald Almodovar riding his fourth winner of the night. It was nice seeing the big name jockeys like Prado, Johnny V, Castellano and Julien Leparoux showing up to ride for some big stakes money. Commentator petered out going around 3 turns in the Classic, which was won by my DRF Public Handicapper choice Researcher (and track record holder) who held off 27-1 Ea (dumbest name in racing) in the stretch to capture $600K. It was a fun watching the night races on the short track and seeing the big names at CT. No Big Chuck sightings, however.

Looks like Pletcher found his last place finisher yesterday in the Lexington, ironically, last year's Mr. Irrelevant, Monba, runs today at Keeneland in the Ben Ali Stakes. Nice call by Hank, by the way. (hey, I give props when props are deserved)

Gomez picks PoTN over Dunkirk. I think it's a big mistake. Speadsheet to follow.

With all the pirate stuff going on, I've been unusually quiet (as you all know my love of the pirate), but Space Gal informs me that the 2009 Northern California Pirate Festival is on tap in Vallejo, California in June, sounds like a hoot. If you're a twitterer, good laughs daily at Somali_Pirate. Know why the pirate couldn't get into the movie? Answer here.