DEL MAR – Adjudication regarding the controversial finish of Sunday's Best Pal Stakes was rendered yesterday with the board of stewards assessing jockey Victor Espinoza a three-day suspension scheduled to start next Monday.
Espinoza was cited for “failure to make the proper effort to maintain a straight course in the stretch and causing interference” aboard Kelly Leak, who crossed under the wire first but was disqualified to fourth.
Azul Leon, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, was moved up to first place, followed by Coronet of a Baron and Charlie's Moment. The four horses, aligned nearly side-by-side across the track, had bumped within 200 yards of the finish and stewards found Espinoza and his mount to be the cause.
The Daily Racing Form reported yesterday on its Web site that Espinoza and Bejarano engaged in a scuffle in the jockeys' room following the race. Stewards said they will meet with Bejarano tomorrow morning to discuss that situation.
The Best Pal is a steppingstone for the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity, the meeting's 2-year-old championship event on Sept. 3. In the immediate aftermath of the race, Doug O'Neill, trainer of unbeaten Azul Leon, said the colt would likely skip the Futurity. But yesterday, he backed off that statement.
“The original game plan was to skip the Futurity,” O'Neill told a Del Mar official. “But maybe now we'll play it by ear. The decision belongs to the Lacombe family (Azul Leon's owners).”
Coronet of a Baron is considered a Futurity probable. Charlie's Moment would have to be supplementally nominated to the race for $10,000. Kelly Leak is unlikely to run.
McAnally recovering
Hall of Fame trainer
Ron McAnally is recovering in his Rancho Santa Fe residence from being kicked in the left hip by a horse as he walked through the stable area to his barn in darkness around 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, assistant
Dan Landers told DMTC officials.
McAnally, 76, had the injured area checked by doctors Sunday and was scheduled to do so again yesterday.
Hank Wesch: (619) 293-1853; hank.wesch@uniontrib.com
