Stewards Take No Action Over Head-Turning Lezcano Ride

Stewards at Aqueduct Racetrack are taking no action against jockey Jose Lezcano after meeting with him March 11 to review his ride aboard Foxtail  in the March 6 first race there.

"Following a formal film review of Sunday's opening race at Aqueduct Racetrack, the Board of Stewards will take no action against jockey Jose Lezcano for his ride aboard Foxtail. The matter remains under ongoing review," said New York Racing Association spokesperson Pat McKenna.

New York State Gaming Commission Steward Braulio Baeza Jr. could not be reached for comment.

Lezcano's ride on Foxtail was called into question when he took several looks at the horses racing inside of him—including one lengthy turn of his head—in the stretch. Foxtail was then passed by a horse outside of him and battled back but wound up a neck behind the victorious Indian Bella .

I need an explanation!

pic.twitter.com/POuu5VPsZ7

— Faisal (@DeepRacing) March 6, 2022

In the Equibase chart of the race, it reported that the Linda Rice-owned and -trained Foxtail "stalked outside the leading duo under stout restraint" and then "took the advantage while the rider took five more looks to the inside into upper stretch." The footnote went on to report Foxtail "was asked while surprised by the presence of the winner to her outside at the three-sixteenths then lost the advantage, kept on under a drive while fighting inside that foe in the final furlong, and just missed while well clear for the place."