Saratoga 1 - DQ

[Molesap]

Did #7 Palladian Bridge deserve to come down in Race 1? Should the fact that the winner, #3 E Warfare is coming out, while clear and closing the hole the #7 was going to go through affect the decision? If not what is the #7 supposed to do? Just wondering as this DQ seems inconsistent with many of the other decisions made recently, especially considering the Sword Dancer no call.

[jimbo66]

molesap,

Looked like a pretty clear DQ.  The winner coming out was completely irrelevant, multiple lengths clear.  

That said, this looked LESS like a DQ than the Pletcher horse in the 2 year old race later in the card and that stood up.  3 bumps, multiple drifts, and a dead heat.  Hard to say that the fouls didn\'t change the result.

Jim

[TGJB]

You are not kidding. We are through the looking glass.

[BitPlayer]

I didn\'t have a bet, but I saw it differently.  The Pletcher drifted a lot in mid-stretch, but was clear at the time.  When the contact occurred nearing the wire, it was because the Casse came in.  The Pletcher was on a straight course at that time until getting bumped in the hind end.

From the point of view of the connections, both getting a Grade I win was probably more significant than having to split the purse.