It was Leon's third careless riding infraction in the last nine months (click here)
I don't know how reckless riding is defined, but, the owners of "Rich Strike" should appeal any suspension and let the horse run the Preakness. The thoroughbred is up to it. It would be a shame if this is the reason they aren't running the horse.
I watched whatever was on film because it was pure skill and knowing the horse that brought about an upset at Churchill Downs. Sonny Leon took Rich Strike to the rail at the back of the pack, or herd whichever is your pleasure, and stayed there. This group of three-year-olds were very closely matched. If one looks across the pedigree of these horses it is easy to see where the "trust" in the bloodlines lie. But, that aside, Sonny Leon was stealth in his riding and it was brilliant.
He hung back and no one ever expected to find him first at the finish line. The herd ran very closely together and the distance from the front of that herd to the back was limited. "Rich Strike" was never even stressed. It was a fast field and they all kept that pace. At no point did any one horse stand out as the obvious winner. The entire herd was competing and none of them quite and finished a distant last.
When Rich Strike finally comes into the camera view he is being ridden and guided by Sonny Leon. I could not believe he rode that horse so brilliantly and Rich Strike listened to every command. That is rare to see. Usually, the winner of the Derby is so game that the jockey simply let's him run a race he was bred for, but, Rich Strike was pointed in the direction of the opening and the horse was looking for an opening to go there. As soon as Sonny was able to find open space it was the home stretch and Rich Strike outpaced every other horse on the track. If that was Sonny's strategy to allow the horse to run at the back near the rail until the top of the stretch and then turn the colt loose, then it worked and it worked beautifully.
I think Sonny Leon is a brilliant rider and a superior strategist. If that ability to strategize his horse's best assets gets him in trouble once in a while then I think the stewards overseeing the races don't know what they are looking at.
