Gulfstream Stewards Sanction Jockey After Dubious Ride
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Gulfstream Park stewards suspended jockey Tony Maragh Aug. 22 the maximum allowed through Florida statutes—60 days—and fined him $1,000 for not persevering on his mount Musical Heart in the fourth race Aug. 19.
Gulfstream general manager Bill Badgett said the track is further reviewing the race through an internal investigation.
In Sunday's six-furlong, allowance-optional claiming race on the main track, Musical Heart finished second by a head to Richest Gifts after a reserved early approach that saw the Maclean's Music gelding break last of seven. The Equibase chart notes that Musical Heart was unasked early and advanced in the turn, still unasked.
Musical Heart then, "entered the top (of the) stretch eight wide and continued to gain without being perservered with," according to the chart's footnotes.
Racing exclusively at Gulfstream, Tony Bucci's Musical Heart has placed in all eight of his starts but has reached the winner's circle just once. Musical Heart is trained by Aubrey Maragh, who claimed him for Bucci in December at a price of $35,000.
Tony Maragh has had just three mounts at the current Gulfstream meet, earning one win along with his runner-up finish aboard Musical Heart in Sunday's fourth race. A multiple stakes-winning jockey, Maragh said during an Aug. 22 hearing that he was unable to persevere with Musical Heart because he felt weak and thought he might fall off his mount.
As part of its ongoing investigation, Gulfstream officials and stewards also spoke to Aubrey Maragh, who was summarily suspended Wednesday by track officials. Aubrey Maragh will not be allowed on track grounds until the internal investigation of Sunday's fourth race is completed.
In his start before Sunday's effort, Musical Heart finished second by one length as the 6-5 favorite in a one-mile, starter-optional claiming race April 22. Also guided by Tony Maragh in that start, Musical Heart lost a stretch battle to the winner, Discovered. Bumped up in class for Sunday's race, Musical Heart was sent off at 8-1.
Tony Maragh has had just 54 mounts this season with a 7-4-4 record for $160,478 in purse earnings. In 2,726 mounts since 2008, his record is 326-311-354 with earnings of $4,765,715.