‘I’m Definitely Going To Try And Sue Them’: Breeders’ Cup Denies Entry To Paolucci First-Time Starter

Owner Ron Paolucci celebrates Imperative's Charles Town Classic victory

Owner Ron Paolucci is threatening to take legal action against the Breeders' Cup if they continue to deny his 2-year-old filly Heavenhasmynikki the chance to run in one of the events because she has yet to start in a race.

The Daily Racing Form reports that Paolucci paid $30,000 on Monday to pre-enter the unraced filly Heavenhasmynikki in the Juvenile Fillies and Juvenile Fillies Turf. He was later informed by Breeders' Cup officials that the entry would not be accepted.

A spokesperson for the Breeders' Cup told the DRF that the organization would not comment on the situation until pre-entries were announced Wednesday.

Paolucci captured the 2013 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies with longshot Ria Antonia, who was placed first after She's A Tiger was disqualified for interference in the race. Earlier this year, Saratoga stewards denied entry to Paolucci's horse Cautious Giant in the G1 Woodward Stakes. Paolucci had wanted to run Cautious Giant as a rabbit for War Story, and he notified stewards of his intent. Stewards did not allow the horse to run because they felt he wasn't in the race to win.

When asked by the DRF as to why he wanted to run Heavenhasmynikki in the Breeders' Cup, Paolucci responded, “She's sound, extremely talented, and this is a bad group of 2-year-old fillies. Why not take a chance to make a lifetime score?”

“I'm definitely going to try and sue them,” Paolucci said. “Once again I followed the rules and I'm not allowed to run, it's not right.”

“I will go to my grave saying — and I don't care who believes it — if Bob Baffert or Steve Asmussen or Chad Brown entered that horse, there's no chance on God's green earth it would even be questioned. None. Zero.”

Read more in the Daily Racing Form

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