Jockey Lugo Suspended for Failing to Persevere

Gulfstream Park announced Oct. 8 that its stewards suspended jockey Carlos Lugo for 30 calendar days for his failure to persevere when riding Princess Tereska  to a fourth-place finish in the fourth race there Oct. 3. The rider's suspension begins Oct. 11. 

Princess Tereska, owned by Long Trail Stables and trained by Juan Reviriego, competed in a maiden $12,500 claimer at six furlongs. Backed to 4-1 odds in her first start since finishing a pace-pressing third at Gulfstream in April, she raced in fifth down the backstretch, 5 3/4 lengths behind the leader, before dropping back under limited encouragement to sixth after a half-mile, trailing by eight lengths.

The 4-year-old Gone Astray  filly then passed two down the stretch, with Lugo providing at least three right-handed strikes of his riding crop during the stretch run.

Rubysa won the Gulfstream race in front-running fashion at 5-2 odds followed by Sade Purse in second at 17-1 and 3-2 favorite J D's Vista  in third. A $1 exacta returned $82.80 and a 50-cent trifecta returned $84.

Stewards said Friday afternoon they will continue looking into the race. Race replays indicate no stewards' inquiry was conducted before the race was declared official.

Lugo rode Oct. 8 at Gulfstream. He entered Friday's card with 10 wins from 200 mounts this year and has 60 wins from 940 rides over his career.