Desormeaux Gets a Stay of Suspension From Stewards

Kent Desormeaux received a stay of the five-day suspension given him by Hollywood Park stewards on Wednesday for standing up before the wire in a race last Saturday, and he will be able to ride Wekiva Springs in the Underwood on Saturday.

Third approaching the wire in Saturday’s second race on About To Shout, Desormeaux stood up and the 3-year-old was passed by Air Corn.

He has been cited five previous times by the stewards for similar errors. He was fined four times in amounts ranging from $200 to $1,000 and was suspended for five days in May, 1993.

Off his mounts because of flu last Wednesday and Thursday and able to ride only his first three mounts on Friday night, Desormeaux avoided a 10-day suspension only because he attributed Saturday’s incident to his illness. After riding About To Shout, he was off his remaining mounts Saturday and he did not ride Sunday.

Desormeaux could face another five-day suspension after his disqualification aboard Sham Pain in Wednesday’s seventh race. The 3-year-old filly, seeking her sixth victory in a row, was disqualified and placed second for interfering with runner-up Choobloo nearing the finish line.