ONE commentator said he was left with a ‘sour taste’ in his mouth after a trainer returning from a ten-year drugs ban won the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
White Abarrio, the 5-2 favourite, was a comfortable winner of the big Santa Anita race under Irad Ortiz Jr.
Victory marked a miracle comeback for Rick Dutrow Jr.
He was given a huge decade-long ban in 2011 and fined $50,000 after being charged when ‘numerous medication and administration violations’ were found in his barn.
Syringes with unauthorised medications were discovered.
He has not long returned to having horses running again but he could never have dreamed he would win one of the country’s biggest races so soon.
However, not everyone was impressed.
Respected UK horse racing pundit Angus McNae said Dutrow winning left a ‘sour taste’ in his mouth.
And it should be noted that famed trainer Bob Baffert, who had a host of runners in California this week, is banned from Churchill Downs.
And, incredibly, White Abarrio’s owners moved the horse to Dutrow from Saffie Joseph.
That name may ring a bell as it was Joseph who was blocked from having runners at Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Derby after two of his horses died.
It proved to be a career-altering move for Dutrow, who choked back tears as he said after victory: “It’s incredible.
“The only way I can get this feeling is through this horse. It’s incredible. Oh my God!
“I thought I had a nice horse coming to me. But we weren’t dreaming of anything like this.
“I thought he was the winner the whole way round the track.
“I knew we had nothing in our way and only someone could catch us. I felt good.
“It feels unbelievable. I love it. Hi, mom!”