Kentucky Derby Road: Jan. 11 Pasco Stakes
This seven furlong local prep for the Sam F. Davis Stakes was ruined for one-length winner Owen Almighty after stewards declared an inquiry and disqualified him upon finding he interfered with the fourth-place finished one-half mile into the race. Irad Ortiz, Jr., known for his competitive tactics, was aboard Owen Almighty for trainer Brian Lynch. Stewards said Ortiz and Owen Almighty "bumped and forced Rookie Card to take up sharply." Second finisher Naughty Rascal, who cleared third finisher Very Bold by 4 1/2 lengths, was declared the winner for jockey Edwin Gonzalez and trainer Gerald Bennett. Owen Almighty's time was a quick 1:22.50 after vying for the lead early. Naughty Rascal, in the words of the Equibase chart writer, tracked the early pace from the outside, dug in deep stretch and finished gamely to the wire.

Gerald Bennet, winning trainer: “My horse ran his race, but I think he’ll get much better going around two turns. I didn’t really drill on him for this race. He eats everything you put in front of him, and he looked a little on the heavy side in the paddock. He’s way off from being at his peak, but you want them to peak at the right time. My main objective is to try to win the Tampa Bay Derby (on March 8).”

Edwin Gonzalez, winning jockey: “He got a little tired late, but he did everything I asked. He proved himself. He tried hard and put it right there for me.”

Brian Lynch, trainer of DQ'd Owen Almighty: “You haven’t run enough horses if you haven’t been in a position like this. (Ortiz said) he felt like (Alvarado on Rookie Card) was out of horse and he was backing out of there anyway. It’s just a very unfortunate thing.”

Naughty Rascal is 4-for-6, and first-place money of $62,500 raised his career earnings to $220,630. He is owned by Mr Pug, LLC and J.P.G. 2, LLC, the partnership of Ron Pugliese and Jim Georgeades.