Why not do some research before concluding "betting coup"?

It was such an involved "scheme", that on two of the overweight incidents, THE JOCKS IN QUESTION WON RACES AT SARATOGA...

On 8/22 in the 9th, Corny Velasquez is alleged to have "rode the number eight horse in race nine at SRC to completion". In said race, C. Velasquez managed to pilot Evening Attire (7-1) to a 5 length victory over Funny Cide (1-1) and Bowman's Band (4-1) in the Saratoga Breeders Cup Handicap...

On 8/25 in the third, Robby Albarado is alleged to have "rode the number four horse in race three at SRC to completion". In said race, R. Albarado managed to bring Shadow Cast (6-1) in first in a 9f O/Alw Clm over Cloak of Vagueness (1-1) and Childress (5-2)...

Wow... Pretty clever conspiracy. Overweight the mounts and win anyway!

I'd also like an explanation of how Albarado was overweight on 8/21.. He carried 118 in the 5th (7th on Maharishi at 18-1) and 117 in the 6th (7th and last on Ginny's Queen at 9-2, third choice). Both races are cited in the indictment. But 25 minutes later in the 7th, Albarado was again at 118 when he won a $100k Opt Clm on Midway Road. THAT race isn't cited.

This entire fiasco is the work of one person at NYRA who must have thought he was Karen Silkwood. The fact that Mario and Braulio both were kept on salary while suspended tells you everything you need to know.

Here are the cited transgressions from last year's Toga meet...

Date, Race #: Rider, Finish-Horse (Trainer) Odds:

8/16, 1st: Castillo, 9th Anat (Cuandra) 53-1
8/16, 2nd: Albarado, 7th Musha Cay (Walden) 23-1
8/16, 4th: Albarado, 4th Woodlander (Albertrani) 11-1
8/16, 6th: Albarado, 3rd Contagious (Young) 4-1
8/16, 7th: Castillo, 5th Race For Glory (Lukas) 31-1
8/16, 8th: Albarado, 10th Vanity Affair (Stoklosa) 11-1

8/19, 3rd: Castillo, 6th Punchout (DeMasi) 16-1
8/19, 6th: Smith, 3rd Command Center (Gyarmati) 14-1
8/19, 6th: Castillo, 9th Cuse (Trimmer) 35-1

8/21, 5th/6th: Albarado as cited above

8/22, 1st: Castillo, 2nd Renamed (Pederson) 11-2
8/22, 8th: Albarado, 6th Strategy (McGaughey) 5-2 * beaten favorite
8/22, 9th: Velasquez, 1st Evening Attire (Kelly) 15-2
8/22, 9th: Albarado, 4th Alumni Hall (Howard) 7-1

8/23, 3rd: Albarado, 2nd Tap'n Tango (Lukas) 2-1 * 2nd choice
8/23, 3rd: Smith, 6th Miss Discover (Parisella) 52-1
8/23, 6th: Smith, 4th Thirteen Mil (Ferraro) 70-1
8/23, 6th: Albarado, 8th Yankee Magic (Dutrow) 11-2 * 2nd choice

8/25, 3rd: Albarado, 1st Shadow Cast (Howard) 6-1
8/25, 5th: Velasquez, 2nd Family Business (Stewart) 3-1 * 2nd choice
8/25, 5th: Albarado, 5th Amanuensis (Vestal) 8-1

8/26, 2nd: Albarado, 6th Burmese Cat (Stewart) 8-1
8/26, 3rd: Albarado, 4th Vibs (Romans) 20-1
8/26, 4th: Albarado, 4th My Hidden Storm (Matz) 30-1
8/26, 9th: Castillo, 3rd Land of Dreams (Feron) 9-1

8/27, 1st: Castillo, 9th Desert Patrol (Lukas) 43-1
8/27, 6th: Smith, 2nd Veiled Speed (Contessa) 19-1 * debut
8/27, 6th: Albarado, 3rd Straw Hat (Howard) 11-2

8/30, 2nd: Velasquez, 5th Datts Joesrainbow (Serpe) 48-1
8/30, 6th: Albarado, 5th Parading Tomisue (Howard) 27-1
8/30, 6th: Santos, 12th Ohbeegeewhyen (K. O'Brien) 24-1


This whole thing is so disgusting that it's hard to believe. To ruin two men's lives over this, one a Hall of Famer that's beloved by everyone in NY no less, is pathetic.




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/21/2005 05:30PM by Kasept.