DRF: Dave Grening


Rick Violette critical of Gulfstream Park track maintenance, stewards

Rick Violette, the trainer of Florida Derby second-place finisher Upstart, was highly critical of the Gulfstream Park stewards and the track maintenance crew for their performance Saturday.

Violette, as did others, felt the track was extremely deep and demanding as evidenced by the fact the final time of the 1 1-8-mile Florida Derby was 1:52.30, the slowest time for the race since Nashua ran 1:53.20 in 1955.

Violette believes the lack of water placed on the track in the days leading to the Florida Derby played a role in the surface being so slow. Track maintenance crews did step up their watering of the track on Saturday, but Violette said “you can’t catch-up on race day.”

Further, Violette was upset with the stewards who made the Florida Derby _ the last of 14 races on a card that lasted seven hours _ official before his jockey, Jose Ortiz, could claim foul against John Velazquez, aboard the winner, Materiality.

Violette believes the stewards were in a hurry to leave after a long day. First post for the 14-race card was noon. The Florida Derby ended after 7.

“The fastest race of the day was the stewards to the elevator after the last race,” Violette said.

Violette believes the “incompetence” of the track maintenance crew and the stewards could have a damaging effect on Gulfstream Park’s business moving forward.

“It’s disappointing that as hard as [president] Tim Ritvo and [general manager] P.J. Campo are working to raise the standard of Gulfstream racing they will not be successful as long as they have the incompetence in the judge’s stand and the maintenance of their racetrack,” Violette said. “Nobody should feel confident with those people overseeing the racing product especially the horse player. That they didn’t take the time yesterday to make sure things were correct is irresponsible and does material damage to Gulfstream Park. Frank Stronach deserves better.”

Frank Stronach is the owner of Gulfstream Park.

Materiality, trained by Todd Pletcher, defeated Upstart by 1 1-2 lengths in the Florida Derby. Materiality, under John Velazquez, raced outside of Jack Tripp for the first 4 1-2 furlongs. Upstart, under Ortiz, was off the flank of Materiality. Leaving the half-mile pole, Jack Tripp retreated and it became a two-horse race.

Materiality and Upstart were always within a half-length of each other. Above the sixteenth pole, Materiality came over a little and appeared to brush with Upstart, which enabled him to gain some separation which Materiality maintained to the wire.

Violette said well after the Florida Derby he talked with Gulfstream steward Jeff Noe who told him that he and his fellow stewards looked at the incident once and determined there was no cause for disqualification. The stewards did not post the inquiry sign.

“We were straight as an arrow, Johnny hitting left-handed came out and bumped us and he was alongside of us when he bumped us and that gave him the separation he maintained the rest of the race,” Violette said. “To say that didn’t affect the outcome is mind-boggling. That they didn’t stick around to listen to the jockeys and to adjudicate it and look at it multiple times is irresponsible."

Last month, Upstart finished first in the Fountain of Youth over Itsaknockout, but was disqualified by the stewards and placed second for interfering with Itsaknockout in the stretch.

“The biggest criticism of the stewards down here is their lack of consistency,” Violette said. “The fact is you can never have consistency if you have incompetence to start with.”

Violette said that Upstart came out of the race in good order and would still be pointed to the Kentucky Derby.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said Materiality, who vanned back to Palm Meadows from Gulfstream on Sunday morning, also appeared to come out of the race well and is bound for the Derby.

Ami's Flatter, who finished third but 12 1-2 lengths behind second-place Upstart, would leave for Woodbine on Monday. She said she would let owner Ivan Dalos decide whether to pursue the Derby, but noted that Ami's Flatter is the early favorite for the Queens Plate at Woodbine on July 5.