The colt interfered with Antiguo Secreto in the stretch; earlier, in the third race, a similar situation had a different outcome...
LA PLATA.— The ongoing mismanagement at La Plata was once again exposed during the Nueva Generación Stakes (1000 m, dirt), the feature race of a lackluster and scorching Saturday that was completely wasted. Entrusting the management of a racetrack to individuals with no knowledge of horse racing is, quite literally, a recipe for disaster. The evidence—now painfully obvious—speaks for itself. Neither the Administration nor the stewards’ panel can seem to make a correct decision, not even by accident. It’s as if they aim for the goal and send the ball straight out of bounds—so close, yet so far from getting it right.
However, this Saturday appeared to cross a critical line: the line of transparency. In the third race, a disqualification was issued due to interference, but later, in the feature race, a very similar situation went unaddressed, and the results were upheld. To make matters worse, neither of the two replays was uploaded to the racetrack’s YouTube channel, leaving one to assume the worst. Scruples and shame seem to be in short supply.
The stakes race itself, contested by maiden runners, began with yet another disastrous start—Argentina’s gate issues are a national embarrassment. In the stretch, Vendaval Joy, piloted by Franco Menéndez, veered inward towards the rail, clearly impeding Antiguo Secreto (Angiolo) and forcing jockey Emiliano Siniani to check his mount.
Free from interference, Vendaval Joy powered on to the wire, defeating Indie Joy by three lengths and securing a 1-2 finish for Roman Joy (Fortify), a first-crop sire. Antiguo Secreto, beaten a neck, had to settle for third.
Siniani—ironically the jockey disqualified in the earlier third race—lodged an objection, but the stewards made the surprising decision to let the result stand. It was a glaring error, made all the more egregious given the contrasting outcome of an almost identical scenario just hours earlier. And yet, they wonder why fans accuse them of favoring certain tickets when making these calls…
The Nueva Generación Stakes went to Vendaval Joy, overshadowed by yet another poor decision by those who, instead of ensuring fair play, seem intent on doing the opposite.
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