Jockey Tyler Baze returns to mounts after three weeks off

DEL MAR, Calif. - Tyler Baze resumes riding at Del Mar on Sunday after an absence of three weeks that included a week he took off for a personal reason and nearly two weeks in which he failed to clear a required drug test for a prescribed medication.

Baze is booked to ride Club Cal in the sixth race, Lady Maryann in the seventh race, and Floral Essence in the ninth race.

Baze was cleared to ride shortly before 9 a.m. on Sunday, according to Del Mar steward Luis Jauregui and the rider’s agent, Jack Carava.

Baze was removed from his mounts on Saturday after a midday drug test showed the presence of a calming medication he was given on Aug. 15 after a spike in blood pressure.

Earlier this month, doctors told Baze the medication would clear his system in a matter of days, but the medication appeared in tests much longer than expected. A doctor recently told Baze that the rider’s fitness was a contributing factor in the lingering presence of the medication.

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Baze was not allowed to work horses or ride in recent weeks because of the failed medication tests.

Baze did not ride from Aug. 11-14 for what Del Mar stewards described as “personal matters” with his family. He missed an additional seven days of racing while waiting for the medication to clear.

At the current Del Mar meeting, Baze, 39, has won with 2 of 67 mounts. In his career, Baze has won 2,874 races, including 434 at Del Mar.