Junior Alvarado secured his first Triple Crown win on the First Saturday in May, but he’s going to have to pay for his Kentucky Derby performance.
The jockey was aboard Sovereignty when Bill Mott’s talented three-year-old outdueled Journalism in the mud down the Churchill Downs stretch to win by 1.5 lengths. The winning connections took home $3.1 million, and $310,000 went to Alvarado. Now, he has to pay some of that back.
BloodHorse reports that Alvarado has been suspended and fined for excessively using his whip during his winning Kentucky Derby ride. Regulations allow for jockeys to use the riding crop six times. Alvarado struck Sovereignty eight times during the two-minute ride.
Alvarado is suspended for two racing days and fined $62,000. If that fine feels steep, you’re right. According to HISA rules, going 1-3 strikes over the limit results typically in a $250 fine or 10% of the jockey’s portion of the purse, whichever is greater, plus a one-day suspension. Alvarado’s suspension was doubled after he received one last December.
The 38-year-old jockey knew this ruling was inevitable, although he was candid in his comments with BloodHorse. The tape shows he violated the rules, but he didn’t realize it in the heat of the moment.
“I couldn’t keep track of that. It’s such a big race, there’s so much that you’ve got on your mind,” Alvarado told BloodHorse on Saturday night after the Derby.
“I wasn’t galloping by 10 (lengths). When the extra whip happened, I was right next to the favorite and I needed to do what I needed to do at the time. After (watching a replay), I saw I went over, but I had no time to think about that (in the moment). I just wanted to win the biggest race in America.”
Alvarado will be sidelined from racing on May 29 and May 30, but his agent is appealing the ruling.
Another Derby Horse out of the Preakness
Junior Alvarado will not ride Sovereignty in the Preakness. The Derby winner is skipping the second leg of the Triple Crown. Another top horse is not making the trip to Baltimore.
Bob Baffert will withhold Rodriguez from the Preakness Stakes. The front-running winner of the Wood Memorial was scratched just a few days before the Kentucky Derby with a foot issue. The bruise prevented Rodriguez from receiving enough prep time for next Saturday’s race. Instead, the horse will be pointed to the Belmont.
The loss of Rodriguez means there is only one Kentucky Derby horse in the field for the Preakness, D. Wayne Lukas’ American Promise. Journalism galloped earlier this week and is probable for the race at Pimlico. The post position draw is Monday at 6 PM ET.
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