I guess the chart caller and I were to only two who thought she should have been taken down. For the record, it would have made a small, yet insignificant difference for me, especially since my P5 fizzled out soon after. You are telling me that Pine Needles is going to finish 6th without having to check?
From DRF Chart
PINE NEEDLES broke on top and carved out on the pace during the opening fraction, conceded the front to the winner soon after entering the backstretch, sat rated in the pocket, had sufficient room along the inside route to launch a rally cutting the corner into the lane and did just that, picked up speed noticeably becoming the innermost participant of a trio banging away for command, had its clear passageway along the inside route gradually get squeezed shut by ALL IN FUN starting from around the sixteenth pole, checked while in tight, then bobbled while appearing to cross over the heels of the aformentioned rival in the final seventy yards, dropped back with the loss of momentum and failed to recover any interest.
From the Stewards
Stewards inquiry in the vicinity of the 1/16 pole as #5 All in Fun (Javier Castellano) steps in and #2 Pine Needles(Joel Rosario) while racing in tight quarters has to briefly steady. #5 All in Fun goes on to finish first and #2 Pine Needles goes on to finish 6th. After reviewing the race video speaking to the riders involved and in the judgment of the stewards this incident didn't alter the finish of the race.
And these are guys who\'ve been around for a while. They\'re afraid.
Molesap,
Jockey didn\'t object, which is almost an automatic after the inquiry was posted.
Pine Needles was NEVER winning. Maybe a shot at 3rd.
But it was a foul. Had no skin in the game either way, but would not have DQ\'ed the winner. Pine Needles looked beat and wasn\'t going through the hole when it was open, before it then closed (albeit likely by a foul).
Wouldn\'t surprise me if this was one where stewards fine Javier, despite not taking down the horse, saying it was careless riding, but it didn\'t affect the top 3 finish.
Jim
Thanks for your perspective. Agree it did not cost him the win, but surely it cost him some purse money. Just thought it was odd, especially after looking at the chart.