Our Moonlight Secures Chillingworth Stakes Victory via Disqualification at Santa Anita
In a dramatic turn of events at Santa Anita Park, the Grade 3, $100,000 Chillingworth Stakes concluded with an unexpected victor. Our Moonlight, initially finishing a neck behind Paradise City, was ultimately awarded the win following a stewards' review. This decision came after an objection regarding an early-race interference, which significantly altered the outcome and marked Our Moonlight's inaugural stakes triumph.
The controversy unfolded shortly after the race began, as jockey Tiago Pereira, aboard Our Moonlight, lodged a complaint against Paradise City and its rider, Kazushi Kimura. Pereira alleged that Paradise City veered into Our Moonlight's path near the five-eighths pole, forcing his filly to check her stride. The stewards, after careful consideration, sided with Pereira's claim, determining that the interference prevented Our Moonlight from achieving a superior position. Consequently, Paradise City was demoted to second place, elevating Our Moonlight to the winner's circle.
Pereira recounted the incident, stating, "I saw Kimura. He broke better and tried to go inside, and I had to stop my filly. She got a little scared, but at the three-eighths, I got her out and pushed her to get into the clear, and she finished strong." Kimura, however, offered a differing perspective, expressing surprise at the disqualification. "He tried to force and jump in there. I was already clear. I had position. I was surprised I got the DQ. I just followed instruction, but I thought I was clear," Kimura explained.
The race itself saw odds-on favorite Thermal, under Joel Rosario, setting a blistering pace. Paradise City then challenged from the inside in the final stretch, with a bump from Thermal adding to the drama before Paradise City edged ahead. Despite an early check, Our Moonlight rallied wide in the lane but couldn't quite catch the front-runners at the wire. The official winning time for Paradise City was 1:16.36, but after the stewards' decision, Our Moonlight's payout reflected her official victory.
Trainer Dean Pederson, while pleased with the win, acknowledged the unusual circumstances. "It was hard to tell. She was inside. Just watching it live, you couldn't tell," Pederson remarked. He added, "At first, it was like 50-50. Somebody's on the fence and whoever made the deciding vote, I want to thank them. Sometimes you're on the right end and sometimes you're on the wrong end. You never like to win like that. I thought our filly ran very good whether she got moved up or not. It's frosting on the cake, I guess." This victory significantly boosts Our Moonlight's value and career earnings, a major achievement for her connections, Larry and Ann Jett.
This incident at Santa Anita serves as a reminder of the critical role stewards play in horse racing, ensuring fairness and adherence to rules. While the manner of victory for Our Moonlight was unconventional, it underscores the intense competition and the fine margins that often determine the outcome of these high-stakes races. The decision, though met with mixed reactions, solidified Our Moonlight's position as a graded stakes winner.