Espinoza to Serve 7-Day Riding Suspension

Victor Espinoza, to begin a seven-day suspension Saturday, Oct. 4 for his ride on Sky Kingdom in the Awesome Again Stakes (gr. I) a week earlier, says he will not appeal the stewards decision against him.



The ruling by stewards at Santa Anita Park 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 rule 1884, "unsatisfactory rides."



Espinoza was found to have fanned eventual winner Shared Belief, the 2-5 favorite, quite wide into the clubhouse turn and down the backstretch in the 1 1/8-mile race. Sky Kingdom finished last. Espinoza's ban runs Oct. 4-5, and Oct. 9-13.



"The Breeders' Cup is coming up (Oct. 31 and Nov. 1), and this gives me an opportunity to take some time off and freshen up," said Espinoza, the regular rider of dual classic winner California Chrome and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) favorite American Pharoah.



"I'll come back and hopefully get it done in the Breeders' Cup. What happened (in the Awesome Again) was nothing intentional.



"Everyone has control of his own horse, including me and the other jockeys," Espinoza added. "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."