"The colt's pilot Irad Ortiz, Jr. told trainer Wesley Ward he was watching another horse acting up behind the gates prior to the start.
That horse, Mondammej, was withdrawn from the race after the rest of the field had already been loaded for several minutes. The starting gates then opened before Ortiz was prepared.
Ward told racingpost.com: “Irad was looking back at the horse that wouldn't load. He didn't realize they scratch horses over here. He said he almost fell off.”"
Article:
https://paulickreport.com/news/thoro...n-kings-stand/
