Joel Rosario, who recently tied a Hollywood Park record with six wins on a single card and is the meet’s leading rider, was cleared by California stewards Dec. 13 of charges that he failed to put forth his best effort in a race at Del Mar in September.
In a unanimous ruling issued by stewards Albert Christiansen, Kim Sawyer, and Randy Winick at a Los Alamitos hearing, there was found to be “insufficient evidence” to prove Rosario failed to put forth his best effort on Cedros in a Sept. 6 maiden race on the turf when finishing fourth by 3 1/2 lengths.
To read full transcript of the order ruling, go here.
Trainer John Glenney, who previously owned Cedros with his wife, Kim, initially complained about Rosario’s ride, and the California Horse Racing Board later filed a complaint, which led to several days of testimony. Rosario was represented by attorney Roger Licht in the case.
According to the Equibase official chart of the Sept. 6 race, Cedros, the 4-1 third choice, dueled on the outside for the lead for the first half-mile, then “fell back some leaving the second turn and angled in, continued along the rail in the stretch, and was edged for the show.”
Glenney questioned Rosario’s ride and then complained to Del Mar steward Ingrid Fermin after he said he received a phone call from Vic Stauffer, Rosario's agent, the day after the race inquiring about whether Cedros was for sale. Cedros, a 3-year-old Medaglia d'Oro colt currently owned by Joseph Rauch and David Zell, is winless in seven lifetime starts.
A 24-year-old native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Rosario won aboard six of his seven mounts Dec. 11 at Hollywood Park to equal a record and is on his way to a riding title at the current meet, with 35 victories through Dec. 14.