Curalina Wins the CCA Oaks by Disqualification

For the second time in two days trainer Todd Pletcher found his way to the winner’s circle in a graded stakes race by way of a disqualification. Today, in the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), I’m a Chatterbox finished a nose ahead of Pletcher’s Curalina, but after a stewards’ inquiry, and a jockey objection, the order of finish was switched and Curalina was placed first.

The official explanation as announced by race caller Larry Collmus was that, “Three strides before the finish line, I’m a Chatterbox came out, causing Curalina to alter course.”

Coming in to the race, the three-year-old filly division was wide open with several horses having recorded a Grade 1 victory, but now with the help of a steward’s decision, Curalina has now won two grade ones and she sits atop the division. Curalina has won two jewels of the old NYRA Triple Tiara; the Acorn and the CCA Oaks.

As today’s race began, I’m a Chatterbox rushed from her outside post position straight to the lead. Conquest Eclipse, Keen Pauline, and Curalina were in a tight pack of three contending for running room a length behind the leader.

I’m a Chatterbox’s early fractions were 23.54 and 46.99 and at this stage of the race Curalina was in second on the rail with Conquest Eclipse right outside her. The top two would remain unchanged the rest of the race. Include Betty would try and make a big closing move but the best she could do is third position.

Chatterbox’s regular rider Florent Geroux and John Velazquez on Curalina would battle down the stretch after going 1:11.27 for three-quarters and 1:36.72 for a mile. Velazquez had Curalina make a final surge on the outside of I’m a Chatterbox but they needed one more stride. The gutsy Larry Jones trainee hung on and kept her nose in front, but in the end it was the stewards who decided the winner.

With the victory, Pletcher earned an amazing seventh win in the CCA Oaks having won before with distaff stars like Princess of Sylmar, Ashado, and Devil May Care to just name a few. For Velazquez it was his fourth win in this stake. He won with Tweedside in 2001, Octave in 2007, and shared Ashado with Pletcher in 2004.

"Based on the comments Johnny [Velazquez] made, he felt very sure he was going by that filly until that happened,” said Pletcher. “It's hard to appreciate while you are watching it live. After seeing that she came back one jump after the wire and put her nose in front, I feel a little less apologetic about this one. Yesterday, we weren't bothered. We were the beneficiary of someone else being bothered. In this particular case, our filly was knocked off stride in a critical point in the race and got beat a couple inches. In my eyes, it probably made the difference. I'm sure there are other people that feel differently, but based on what Johnny said, just watching it there, I would have to agree."

The betting public sure had the race figured out correctly as they made Curalina the 4-5 favorite and I’m a Chatterbox the 5-2 second choice. For the win Curalina paid $3.90, $2.60, $2.10. The $2 exacta with the top two paid a very skimpy $5.20.

Curalina’s career stats improved to 5: 4-1-0 with earnings of $666,800. Her only loss came in her first career start in a muddy maiden special weight at Saratoga, one day shy of a full year ago.