Appeal filed in Elegantimage placing

by Melissa Keith

While R Dutchess (3, 1:52s; $455,416) finished second to Delaney Hanover in the Oct. 5 Kentucky Filly Futurity at The Red Mile, the final outcome of another recent race again hangs in the balance.

As previously reported in HRU, the 3-year-old daughter of Father Patrick—The Ice Dutchess won the $273,750 (U.S.) Grade 1 Elegantimage final at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Sept. 20, only to be placed last for allegedly causing interference on the first turn.

Shortly after the story appeared in this column, Douglas Paul reached out via email to state that R Dutchess’ lessees M and L DE and Armitage Farm of Wilmington, DE did not agree with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) judges’ decision. Paul’s message noted that the filly’s connections were “in the process of filing an appeal” as of Sept. 24.

Paul’s message underscored the view expressed in this column, i.e., that R Dutchess and driver Tim Tetrick were not unequivocally and solely at fault in the video evidence that appeared, from certain angles, to show them bearing in on Global Heritage, who went off-stride approaching the opening quarter. From other angles, it looked as if Lasting Dream and driver Louis-Philippe Roy caused the interference.

Lasting Dream finished second to R Dutchess. She was placed first when judges set back Tetrick’s filly to last for causing interference to Global Heritage, who had finished last after the break.

It was a serious disappointment for R Dutchess’ racing-breeding lessees and her owner Armitage Farm of Midway, KY. She and Tetrick had previously won her $55,620 (U.S.) Casual Breeze division Aug. 22 at Mohawk; the other division was won by Global Heritage and driver Dexter Dunn, over place finisher Lasting Dream and Roy. On Aug. 30, R Dutchess had drawn away from Lasting Dream late in their $116,599 (U.S.) Grade 3 Simcoe Stake division at Mohawk.

Before the appeal was submitted, Paul wrote that “In the meantime, we were able to produce a slow-motion video… that clearly shows Mr. Roy [put a] wheel under R Dutchess which caused the chain reaction incident. We so far have only been able to grab a video off the internet and are waiting for Mohawk to provide others.” (A video clip was attached to the message, displaying what Paul described.)

This week, the Ontario Horse Racing Appeal Panel (HRAP) appeals coordinator Bianca D’Souza reached out to confirm that the connections of R Dutchess had filed their appeal about the placing. No date has yet been scheduled for the hearing.

R Dutchess, Lasting Dream, and Global Heritage are all eligible to the Grade 1 Breeders Crown 3-year-old filly trot, scheduled for Saturday (Oct. 25) at Mohawk, with eliminations on Saturday (Oct. 18) if required. The results of their $600,000 Breeders Crown final will all but certainly be known before the Elegantimage appeal is resolved.