Edited Press Release
Red Baron’s Barn or Rancho Temescal’s Zoffarelli (IRE), in from England just a week earlier and unable to even get a work in over the Del Mar track, didn’t let that stop him from coming away with a victory as he survived a bumping match through the stretch and was ultimately declared the winner via disqualification of the $150,500 La Jolla Handicap (G3) on Aug. 8 at the seaside racing venue.
The bay gelding by Zoffany (IRE) was second across the wire just a nose behind Sword Zorro (IRE) and just a head in front of Hudson Ridge in a furious finish. After the track’s stewards reviewed film of the contentious stretch run where all three horses went through a series of bumps, they came to the conclusion that Sword Zorro should be disqualified and placed third and the other two horses each moved up one placing.
“If I don’t get banged that last time, I’m going to go on by and win it on my own,” said Drayden Van Dyke, jockey of Zoffarelli. “But he (Sword Zorro) kept constantly drifting out and out. It was the right call. I knew this horse was going to run big today. I did my homework. I was over at the barn with Jeff (trainer Mullins) the other morning watching this horse’s races in England. The owners know what they’re doing when they go over to Europe and buy one. They got another good one here.”
The winning time for the 1 1/16-miles was 1:42.27 over a course rated firm.
“I’ve only had him for eight days. No works,” said Jeff Mullins, trainer of Zoffarelli. “They worked him before he came and we just kept him happy. I wasn’t that confident (during the inquiry). I’ve been on the wrong side of them a lot before. It (elevation to first) looked legitimate, but you never know.”
Zoffarelli returned $17.80, $6.00 and $3.80 across the board. Hudson Ridge paid $3.40 and $2.40, while Sword Zorro returned $3.60 to show.
Owned by the father and son team of Jed and Tim Cohen, Zoffarelli – who last raced June 30 at Bath in England – earned $90,000 for his victory moving his bankroll up to $110,325. He had won a race and was second five times in seven starts in England as a 2- and 3-year-old.