Leon is suspended 15 days for Lukas Classic ride
Jockey Sonny Leon was suspended by Kentucky racing stewards for 15 days because of his ride aboard Rich Strike in Saturday's Grade 2 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs.
His agent, Bryce Soth, confirmed the suspension, which was reported earlier by Marty McGee of Daily Racing Form.
Soth said the suspension begins Oct. 9 and that Leon will return to racing on Oct. 30 in Florida, where he regularly rides.
At issue is an incident when Rich Strike, winner of the 2022 Kentucky Derby, sideswiped Hot Rod Charlie and jockey Tyler Gaffalione as they were dueling toward the finish. Hot Rod Charlie recovered and edged Rich Strike in a photo finish.
The ruling reads that Leon was suspended "for intentionally attempting to interfere with and impede the progress of a rival by repeatedly making physical contact with another rider in the stretch."
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Rich Strike's trainer, Eric Reed, told Horse Racing Nation that Leon said his saddle had become loose.
“He said, ‘I started to lose my balance. The saddle slipped over and made me lean to the left.’ ”
The brush with Hot Rod Charlie might have been in the older colt's favor, Gaffalione said.
“I needed somebody to push him along" he said. "When that horse came up to him, that was exactly what we needed.”
Soth declined to say whether he considered the suspension appropriate.
"It really doesn't matter what I think. The stewards gave their ruling, and I have to respect it."
Still, he said, "Obviously, as a jockey agent, I'd like my rider to ride every day that he's eligible to ride. So I mean, I'm not happy about it."