Stevens injured at Arlington Million; Sulamani declared winner after frightening finish

By JASON STRAIT
AP Sports Writer

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (AP) Gary Stevens injured his shoulder after being thrown to the turf crossing the finish line first aboard Storming Home in the Arlington Million on Saturday, with Sulamani declared the winner when Stevens' horse was disqualified.

Stevens, the Hall of Fame jockey who has a starring role in the movie ``Seabiscuit,'' fell off Storming Home a few strides past the finish line and lay on the ground motionless for about five minutes. The rider eventually sat up and moved his legs before being carried off in a stretcher and taken to the hospital.

Stevens' shoulder was stepped on, but the jockey was conscious and inquired about the finish before he was loaded onto the stretcher, according to Chaplain Dennis Nelson.

His condition was not immediately available.

``Gary is conscious and talking. He has been given a (painkiller) and had X-rays taken of his left shoulder,'' Nelson said.

The frightening end came at the finish of what was one of the strongest fields ever for the Million.

Storming Home finished a half-length ahead of Sulamani, but was disqualified for bolting far to the outside just a few strides before the finish and veering into the path of Sulamani and two others. Stevens fell after the finish line, and the stewards disqualified Storming Home for moving into Sulamani's path just before the finish.

``It happened so fast, just before the wire,'' Sulamani's jockey David Flores said. ``I just kept riding my horse, that's my job. I hope Gary comes back and is safe.''

Stevens was the only rider to fall, and no horses were injured. Stevens was able to avoid serious danger because Storming Home had veered so far to the outside it put him a safe distance from the rest of the field.

The harrowing scene overshadowed a thrilling finish for Storming Home and Sulamani, the two favorites entering the race.

Storming Home and Sulamani were running fourth and fifth at the mile mark and began to make their move around the final turn. They both caught leader Perfect Soul down the stretch, with Storming Home edging past Sulamani about 20 yards before the wire.

``He came very well at the end. He performed really, really well and I got beat right there. What happened with the other horse had nothing to do with me. I just got lucky,'' Flores said.

Storming Home was initially declared the winner, but when the disqualification was announced the crowd booed loudly and continued to jeer when Flores was interviewed on television.

Sulamani paid $7.60, $5.20 and $4.40. Paolini and Kaieteur dead-heated for second. Paolini returned $7.20 and $9, and Kaieteur paid $12 and $13.

Rene Douglas, who was on Kaieteur, issued the objection that got Stevens and Storming Home disqualified.

``He spooked from something,'' Douglas said. ``I only missed him by inches. I was very lucky that I was able to avoid him. It wasn't his fault but it cost me. I had to do something. I was a million dollar race.''

Sulamani, owned by Sheik Mohammed's Dubai-based Godolphin Racing Inc., was held out of workouts because of a foot bruise earlier in the week.

The European star was the early favorite after a runner-up finish in his last start in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot.

``We would have much preferred not to have won in this manner,'' racing manager Simon Crisford said. ``It was a shame that Storming Home could not keep the victory.''

Perfect Soul, the leader down the stretch, finished fifth after Storming Home was place fourth. The Tin Man was sixth, followed by Vangelis, Perfect Drift, Honor in War, Tripat, Touch of Land, Beauchamp Pilot and Olden Times.

Earlier in the $700,000 Beverly D., Heat Haze came on late to overtake Bien Nicole to win the Grade I stakes race for fillies and mares by 1 1/4 lengths. The 4-year-old, trained by Bobby Frankel, won her third race in four starts.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)