Social media lit up in reference to the Grade 3 Ontario Derby at Woodbine on October 21 when the filly SOLO ALBUM (Curlin) was disqualified from her front-running victory against the boys in the 1 1/8 mile race on Tapeta.
Into the first turn of the race, Twin City was on the rail as Solo Album and jockey Sahin Civaci were gliding over from her outside post. Twin City, who had his head turned to the outside, ended up in a bit tight while appearing to race crooked and jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson checked her mount.
From there, Twin City stalked the filly from the rail and while Solo Album had three rivals stack up to her outside to press her late on the backstretch, she turned those ones back and then powered to victory by one length over Breeders’ Stakes winner Touch’n Ride.
Both Wilson and Twin City’s trainer Stuart Simon claimed foul and the stewards had posted an inquiry. Solo Album, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Gary Barber and Steven Rocco, and trained by Mark Casse, was demoted to fifth behind Twin City.
Inheriting the victory was Touch’n Ride, owned by Chiefswood Stable, trained by Layne Giliforte and ridden by Kazushi Kimura.
Solo Album, who won the Grade 3 Selene Stakes earlier this year, is entered in the upcoming Keeneland November Breeding sale.
The disqualification certainly brings to light Woodbine’s plan four years ago to move from Category 2 rules to Category 1 as it is in most racing jurisdictions overseas.
Crowding of horses around turns is a common occurrence, in particular in fields of 10 or more (see this year’s King’s Plate). For the most part, you do not have many disqualifications when horses are in tight, in traffic, checked by their riders and the like early in a race.
Civaci was also involved in another puzzling disqualification earlier in the day when he rode Mrs. C to a second place finish in race 2. In that race, Mrs. C was along the rail and lacking room behind Wilson on Cinnamon Bits. Civaci allowed his filly to move out and go between Princessonamission and just behind the leader in what appears to be a harmless move.
The senior stewards report with videos and explanations for the October 21 card will be posted here.
Pat Cummings, from the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation, quoted a tweet (x) from Eclipse Thoroughbreds and stated:
We’re still in shock as to how or why Solo Album was DQ’d for alleged interference into the 1st turn, but we could not be more proud of her effort in wiring the colts in today’s G3 Ontario Derby @WoodbineTB #EclipseFillies #BelieveBig pic.twitter.com/p2kXKj6bpy
— Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners (@EclipseTBP) October 21, 2023
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