Santa Anita: Tyler Baze attending alcoholism program

Jockey Tyler Baze, suspended in July for failing a sobriety test in June at Hollywood Park, is in the midst of a 60-day residency rehabilitation program for alcoholism in Pasadena, Calif., and hopes to return to riding in October, according to his agent, Craig O’Bryan.

Baze was suspended 120 days by stewards Scott Chaney, Kim Sawyer, and Tom Ward after failing an alcohol test June 13. The suspension was retroactive to June 13 and ends Oct. 10.

In their ruling, the stewards said Baze must attend 60 days of counseling at a rehabilitation facility and attend a fitness hearing before he can be reinstated.

O’Bryan said Baze began his stay at the counseling facility Aug. 13 and that he had been in touch with the jockey earlier this week.

“He said he was doing fine,” O’Bryan said. “He sounded good.”

Baze, 30, admitted in June that he consumed alcohol while on a fishing trip with friends the day before the failed test.

“I take full responsibility for it,” he said at the time.

The penalty was the second time in three years that Baze was sanctioned for alcohol use. The June failed test was a violation of a conditional license issued in September 2012 after Baze missed more than a year of riding for failing to take a Breathalyzer test at Del Mar in September 2011.

When Baze failed the test in June, he was tied for the lead in the jockeys’ standings at Hollywood Park.