Baze fails breathalyzer test

Jockey Tyler Baze failed a breathalyzer test Saturday night at Hoosier Park and has been suspended for seven days, according to Gary Wilfert, a steward at Hoosier Park.

Baze, 22, was at Hoosier Park to ride Southern Africa in the Indiana Derby. He was taken off that mount. Stewards at Santa Anita on Sunday removed Baze from his mounts that day, including Leprechaun Kid, who ran third (placed second) in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Turf Championship.

"With reciprocity, we honor that," George Slender, a steward at Santa Anita, said Sunday. "Tyler will be off today."

According to Wilfert, Baze was tested per Indiana Racing Commission rules, which require all jockeys and licensed racing officials to be given breathalyzer tests every racing day.

"He blew over the limit," Wilfert said. "Our limit is .05, and he was over the number. You can't be above that. Everybody gets breathalyzed here - every jock, every racing official, every racing day. Our rules call for a seven-day suspension. He and his agent," Wilfert said, referring to agent Ivan Puhich, "have been officially notified, and he has been suspended."

Wilfert said a hearing would be scheduled with Baze, but no date had yet been set. Wilfert said Baze arrived around the fourth race Saturday night at Hoosier Park, "about four or five races prior to the Indiana Derby."