Report: Remsen decision prompts protest from Zandon owner

The owner of Remsen Stakes runner-up Zandon has filed a protest over the Aqueduct stewards' decision not to disqualify Mo Donegal for interference near the end of the Kentucky Derby prep last Saturday at Aqueduct.

The Daily Racing Form reported that owner Jeff Drown filed an appeal with the New York State Gaming Commission. Drown contends his horse was narrowly beaten by Mo Donegal due to bumping and an exaggerated motion by his rider, Irad Ortiz Jr., when using his arms and elbows to shake the reins at Zandon.

Zandon's jockey, John Velazquez, objected, but a stewards' inquiry resulted in no change to the order of finish.

Zandon's trainer, Chad Brown, said after the race, "The horse (Mo Donegal) should have come down. We got beat an inch. I thought we had the best horse in the race, so it’s disappointing."

Drown told the DRF, "Certainly, the outcome was affected by how the race was ridden. The case against the other rider is fairly clear to people who watched the video."

Gaming Commission steward Braulio Baeza Jr. told DRF that the commission has discretion on whether to hear the protest.

On Sunday, Ortiz was suspended for 30 days by New York stewards because of aggressive riding in a claiming race last Friday. His mount, Gran Casique, angled in and made contact with Ragtime Blues, unseating Omar Hernandez Moreno.