Espinoza Will Not Appeal Suspension

Victor Espinoza will not appeal his seven-day suspension for his ride on Sky Kingdom in Saturday’s Awesome Again Stakes.   

The ruling cited violation of California Horse Racing Board rule 1699(d), “ride carelessly, or willfully, so as to permit their mount to interfere with or impede any other horse, and #1884, unsatisfactory rides.”

Espinoza’s ban runs Oct. 4, 5, 9, 10, 11 and 12.

“The Breeders’ Cup is coming up (Oct. 31 and Nov. 1), and this gives me an opportunity to take some time off and fresh up,” said Espinoza, the regular rider of Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile favorite American Pharoah.

“I’ll come back and hopefully get it done in the Breeders’ Cup. What happened (in the Awesome Again, when Sky Kingdom carried unbeaten favorite Shared Belief wide into the first turn) was nothing intentional.

“Everyone has control of his own horse, including me and the other jockeys. I was just trying to take care of my horse . . . and trying to win, also. I had to try and win on my horse and take care of him in the meantime.

“I don’t worry about everybody else and what they’re doing and what’s on their minds. But it is what it is and I have a little time off and I’ll come back again.”

Source: Santa Anita Park