Desormeaux not happy after being hit with 3-day suspension
Jockey Kent Desormeaux on Saturday was slapped with a three-day suspension by the Del Mar board of stewards for his ride aboard first-time starter Seven Exes in the first race on Friday.
Desormeaux and Seven Exes finished fifth in the $50,000 maiden-claimer, but were disqualified and placed sixth for veering-in at the start from post position No. 7 and causing interference to multiple horses.
According to a ruling issued on Saturday by stewards, Desormeaux was also given days for "failure to maintain a straight course leaving the starting gate and causing interference, which resulted in the disqualification of his mount..."
Also on Saturday, jockey Kyle Frey was suspended four days by stewards for his ride on Harbor Sky when finishing eighth of 12 in the eighth race on Friday. He was sanctioned for "crossing over without sufficient clearance in the stretch and causing interference." The trip notes in the Equibase chart notes Harbor Sky "bumped rival at the sixteenth pole and improved position."
Desormeaux is scheduled to serve his suspension next Friday, Saturday and on Aug. 5. Frey, a top rider in Northern California off too a fast start at Del Mar, is slated to serve those days plus Aug. 6.
As for Desormeaux, the Hall of Fame jockey said he will appeal the ruling when taking to social media to express his displeasure.
Desormeaux has enjoyed a bit of a resurgence at the current Del Mar meet. He would later win two races on Friday's card and also scored in Saturday's opener aboard favored Norma Jean B. in a maiden special weight.
“He’s riding great isn’t he,” longtime agent Tony Matos said Saturday morning. “It’s like the old days when I had him before. I won two Kentucky Derbies with him (Real Quiet 1998, Fusaichi Pegasus 2000) and he’s riding as good as ever.
“He’s as fit as anybody," Matos added. “He’s strong. The two (winning) rides he put up (Friday)? Only he could have won on those two horses.”
With four wins through the first race Saturday, Desormeaux trailed only Flavien Prat (7) in the jockey standings.