Saratoga Stewards' Decisions

In the 5^th race on 8/31/2025 there was a Stewards inquiry into an incident shortly after the start involving #7 Phileas Fogg, placed third, ridden by Kendrick Carmouche, #6 Contrary Thinking, placed seventh, ridden by Dylan Davis, #5 White Abarrio, placed fifth, ridden by Edgard J. Zayas and #4 Mindframe, which unseated its rider, ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. After viewing the replay and interviewing all riders that were involved, the board of Stewards determined that Phileas Fogg was angled left-handed, intimidating Contrary Thinking off its intended line which resulted in the gelding to make contact with White Obarrio and cause the rider to become severely unbalanced, which in turn gave a heavy bump to Mindframe and caused the rider to become unseated. In the state of New York, Rule 4035.2. section B states “A horse crossing another may be disqualified, if in the judgment of the stewards, it interferes with, impedes or intimidates another horse, or the foul altered the finish of the Rules and Regulations Chapter I (Division of Horse Racing and Pari-Mutuel Wagering) Subchapter A (Thoroughbred Racing) 9 NYCRR §§ 4000-4082.3 132 updated (7/24) race, regardless of whether the foul was accidental, willful, or the result of careless riding. The stewards may also take into consideration mitigating factors, such as whether the impeded horse was partly at fault or the crossing was wholly caused by the fault of some other horse or jockey.” As a result of the interference, the Stewards disqualified Phileas Fogg to last, and the placings were altered as follows: 8-3-2-5.

In the 1^st race on 8/28/2025 there was a Stewards inquiry and Jockeys objection into an incident in the stretch involving #6 Quiddity, placed second, ridden by Katie Davis and #7 San Antonio Sara, placed fourth, ridden by Kendrick Carmouche. After reviewing the replay of the incident and questioning the riders involved, the board of Stewards determined that Quiddity shifted right under a left-handed drive giving a bump to San Antonio Sara, resulting in San Antonio Sara to be taken significantly off its intended line. Taking that into consideration and San Antonio Sara only being beaten 3/4L at the line for third, the Stewards ordered for the placings to be altered as follows: 5-9-7-6.

In the 4^th race on 8/27/2025 there was a Stewards inquiry and Jockeys objection into an incident into the first turn involving the winner #8 Fredo, ridden by Christopher Elliott and #7 Tut’s Revenge, placed fourth, ridden by Ricardo Santana, Jr. After reviewing the replay and questioning the riders involved, the Board of Stewards determined that Fredo was insufficiently clear when shifting left towards the rail into the first bend causing Fredo’s rider to have to take a substantial check, resulting in Tut’s Revenge to lose its early racing position on the rail, to eventually be beaten ½ length to third place. As a result, the placings were altered as follows: 2-1-7-8.

In the 6^th race on 8/17/2025 there was a Stewards inquiry and Jockeys objection between the winner #2 Scope, ridden by John R. Velazquez and #4 Teleport (IRE), placed second, ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. The incident occurred down the stretch. After reviewing the replay and questioning the riders involved, the board of Stewards determined there were two separate incidents down the stretch. In the first incident Teleport (IRE) shifted right causing both horses to make slight contact, in the second incident Scope drifted left under a right-handed drive causing Teleport (IRE) to receive a heavy bump and lose momentum in the closing stages of the race. As a result, #2 Scope was demoted to 2^nd and the new order of finish is as follows: 4-2-6-5.

In the 3^rd race at Saratoga on 08/16/2025 there was a Stewards inquiry as well as a jockeys objection. The incident occurred during the stretch run involving the winner #2 Treaty Obligation, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. and #5 Unclecharliesgift, placed second, ridden by Lane J. Luzzi. The Stewards determined that whilst Unclecharliesgift shifted marginally left, Treaty Obligation shifted quickly right initiating the contact between both horses, giving Unclecharliesgift a heavy bump and resulted in the gelding to lose forward momentum in the closing stages of the race. As a result, #2 Treaty Obligation was demoted from 1^st to 2^nd and the placings were altered accordingly. Placings are as follows: 5-2-1-4.

In the 5^th race at Saratoga on 08/15/2025 there was a Stewards inquiry into the stretch run between the winner, #2 Founders, ridden by Luis Saez and #5 Starship Titan, placed second, ridden by Javier Castellano. After reviewing the replay and questioning the riders involved, the stewards determined that Founders shifted left, after already showing tendencies to hang left prior to the incident, causing Starship Titan to receive a heavy bump which in turn caused the colt to lose significant momentum in the stretch run. As a result, the #2 Founders was demoted and placed second. The result was altered as follows. 5-2-9-3.

In the 9th race at Saratoga on 08/07/2025 there was a Stewards Inquiry into the winner #9 Stars and Strides, ridden by Junior Alvarado and #5 Insubordination (IRE), placed ninth, ridden by Javier Castellano. There was also a Trainer’s objection from #2 Griffin’s Wharf, placed second, ridden by John Velazquez, onto the winner #9 Stars and Strides.

After viewing the replay and questioning riders involved, the Stewards determined that the improving Stars and Strides drifted left into the path of a weakening #5 Insubordination (IRE), causing the rider to have to take a check on the rail, but the stewards did not feel this incident cost #5 Insubordination (IRE) an opportunity of a better placing.

After reviewing the Trainers objection, the Stewards determined that #9 Stars and Strides had an established running path, when Griffin’s Wharf continued to improve past horses, causing the rider to have to switch right around Stars and Strides to continue its run to the wire. Regarding both instances, the placings remained unaltered. 

In the 7th race at Saratoga on 8/1/2025, there was a jockeys objection involving the #7 Zulu Kingdom, placed first, ridden by Flavien Prat, the #2 Luther, placed second, ridden by Joel Rosario and #3 Tiz Dashing, placed fourth, ridden by Javier Castellano.

The incident occurred approaching the first bend. After viewing replays of the incident and questioning riders involved, the Stewards were of the view that Zulu Kingdom shifted left leaving insufficient room on its inside, resulting in Tiz Dashing having to take back for a number of strides and carried left into the path of Luther, who made contact with the running rail for numerous strides and caused the rider to check sharply, losing significant momentum and resulted in Luther losing its racing position into the first turn.

The Stewards are satisfied that the incident cost #2 Luther and #3 Tiz Dashing the opportunity at a better placing and as a result #7 Zulu Kingdom was disqualified from 1st and placed 4th. The revised order of finish is 2-5-3-7.