SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) Curalina won the Grade 1, $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks on Sunday at Saratoga Race Course when first-place finisher I'm a Chatterbox was disqualified to second for interference in the final strides.
It was the second consecutive day a feature race was decided by disqualification. On Saturday, Uncle Vinny was promoted to victory when first-place finisher Magna Light was placed third for interference in the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes. Both Curalina and Uncle Vinny were ridden by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez and trained by Todd Pletcher.
Multiple graded stakes winner I'm a Chatterbox, under jockey Florent Geroux, led a field of seven 3-year-old fillies from the starting gate into deep stretch. As 4-5 favorite Curalina began to bear down and mount a challenge three strides from the wire, I'm a Chatterbox drifted to her right and bothered Curalina.
Following a short inquiry and objection by Velazquez, Curalina was placed first and returned $3.90, $2.60 and $2.10 for her second consecutive Grade 1 victory and fourth straight overall. The winning time was 1:49.74 for 1 1/8 miles.
I'm a Chatterbox returned $3.40 and $2.60, and Include Betty paid $3.20 to show.
