By DRF.com
GRANTVILLE, Pa. (June 3, 2017) — California-bred Richard’s Boy was the official winner of the $200,000 Governor’s Cup at Penn National on Saturday – but it wasn’t easy. As a matter of fact, things were difficult for several horses in the $200,000 Governor’s Cup as there were a pair of jockey objections regarding separate incidents.
Bold Thunder, at 24-1, outsprinted 3-5 favorite Richard’s Boy for the early lead in the five-furlong turf sprint. Bold Thunder, with Irad Ortiz Jr., was digging in during the stretch run when Ortiz switched from a right-handed stick to a left and hit the 7-year-old. Bold Thunder immediately ducked outward.
Ortiz quickly grabbed a hold but the damage had been done as Bold Thunder herded Richard’s Boy outward several paths.
Jockey Paco Lopez, who was beaten a head on Richard’s Boy, lodged an objection and the stewards reversed the order of finish.
“He carried my horse out, and then my horse was coming on again,” Lopez said.
Ortiz said he did all he could when Bold Thunder ducked out.
“He surprised me when he did that,” Ortiz said.
Richard’s Boy is by Idiot Proof, out of the Cee’s Tizzy mare Marissa’s Joy, was bred by Harold and Pamela Tillema, is owned by Rockingham Ranch and trained by Peter Miller.
He has 10 wins in 23 starts, earnings of $759,680 and was coming off a win in the May 19 Jim McKay Turf Sprint Stakes at Pimlico, his first start since racing in Dubai.
Richard’s Boy paid $3.20. Bold Thunder covered the course in 55.75 seconds.
The second claim of foul was lodged by Horacio Karamanos, the rider of Oak Bluffs, who finished fourth, against Javier Castellano, the rider of Rainbow Heir, who finished third.
Both horses were near the back of the pack nearing the far turn. Rainbow Heir moved up outside Oak Bluffs, and Karamanos took up sharply up entering the turn.
Karamanos thought Castellano put him in tight quarters entering the bend. Castellano maintained that he kept to his path and did not come inward. The stewards disallowed the objection.
Rainbow Heir rallied up the inside to finish a neck behind Richard’s Boy. It was a half-length back to Oak Bluffs, who rallied outside horses.