NEWS
Court Vision wins Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap via DQ
Posted: Saturday, February 06, 2010 6:58 PM
COURT VISION (center)
Coglianese Photos
To view the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, click here.
by Tim Nichols
Court Vision earned the third Grade 1 win of his career on Saturday after being elevated to first from second following the disqualification of Take the Points in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1).
The five-year-old Gulch horse charged from the outside in midstretch but was a clear second to Take the Points. In the stretch, Yate’s Black Cat tried to split horses between Le Grand Cru along the rail and Take the Points on his outside. Yate’s Black Cat was rebuffed, however, stumbled badly, and nearly unseated jockey Kent Desormeaux as the gap between Le Grand Cru and Take the Points closed.
Gulfstream Park stewards ruled Take the Points caused the interference by drifting in and disqualified the four-year-old Even the Score colt. He was placed fifth behind Yate’s Black Cat, denying Take the Points his third Grade 1 win in his last four races.
Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., Court Vision raced in fifth while multiple Grade 3 winner Le Grand Cru led through a half-mile in :46.59 and six furlongs in 1:10.03. Take the Points stalked the pace from second.
Entering the stretch, Take the Points started to edge away from Le Grand Cru while jockey Robby Albarado angled Court Vision to the outside for the final furlong. Take the Points crossed the wire first, covering 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:46.84 with Court Vision second, followed by French Group 1 winner Never On Sunday (Fr) in third.
Following a stewards’ inquiry, Take the Points was disqualified for causing interference that led to Yate’s Black Cat clipping heels with Le Grand Cru. The disqualification elevated Never On Sunday (Fr) to second, Le Grand Cru to third, and Yate’s Black Cat to fourth.
Take the Points’ trainer Todd Pletcher said he and owner Jack Wolf will consider appealing the disqualification.
“We thought the one [Le Grand Cru] came out a little [into Yate’s Black Cat],” Pletcher said. “The thing that bothers me most is that there was no way the horse he was supposed to have bothered was ever going to beat him. I’ve always thought that if it isn’t clear you just leave it alone.”
The stewards' decision made Court Vision’s five-year-old debut a winning one for owners IEAH Stables, Resolute Group Stables, and WinStar Farm. He entered off a fourth-place finish to champion turf female Goldikova (Ire) in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).
“I had a great trip,” winning jockey Robby Albarado said. “I think my horse ran a great race and it was a good comeback for him. I was in striking distance with a chance to win and wasn’t bothered in the stretch.”
Court Vision, winner of the 2009 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (G1) and ’08 Hollywood Derby (G1), improved to seven wins from 20 starts and earnings of $1,777,430. Bred in Kentucky by William S. Farish and Kilroy Thoroughbred Partnership, Court Vision is one of nine winners from ten starters out of multiple group or graded stakes producer Weekend Storm, a full sister to 1990 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Summer Squall and a half sister to 1992 Horse of the Year and leading sire A. P. Indy.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Tim Nichols is internet content editor for Thoroughbred Times
