Stewards talk to Geroux over Belmont Stakes ride

ELMONT, N.Y. – The Belmont Park stewards on Thursday talked to jockey Florent Geroux regarding his ride on Restoring Hope in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes.

New York State Gaming Commission steward Steve Lewandowski would only confirm that he, Jockey Club steward Jimmy Edwards, and backup NYRA steward Juan Dominguez spoke to Geroux. He referred all other inquiries to the gaming commission office.

The gaming commission, via email, declined to comment on the matter.

Some horsemen, led by owner Mike Repole, were quite vocal in their displeasure over Geroux’s ride on Restoring Hope in the Belmont. The horse broke slowly and Geroux rushed him into contention and then took him wide in front of Noble Indy entering the first turn and then, around the turn, back toward the inside, where ultimately he kept Bravazo bottled up.

Restoring Hope, like Justify – who won the Belmont Stakes completing a Triple Crown sweep – is trained by Bob Baffert. Restoring Hope, owned by Gary and Mary West, finished eighth as the 37-1 longest shot on the board.

On Thursday, Geroux reiterated that he felt he didn’t do anything wrong and believed that the stewards contacted him as a result of media attention focused on the first part of the race.

“I didn’t bother anybody, I didn’t shut anybody off,” Geroux said. “If there was something, I think they would have contacted me right away to review the race.”

On Sunday morning, Geroux said the horse had gotten aggressive with him after the slow start and that he wanted to put the horse in the clear but keep him away from Justify or else he would have gotten more aggressive.

The only action the stewards could take on Geroux would be a fine or a suspension if they decided that his actions resulted in careless riding.