Tyler Baze pushes return to June 7

ARCADIA, Calif. – Tyler Baze, who has not ridden since May 19 because of body soreness sustained in a one-horse spill, has postponed his return to riding to June 7 at the earliest, said Craig O’Bryan, Baze’s agent..

Baze was named to ride on Memorial Day weekend and then considered returning this weekend before eventually deciding on a comeback next Thursday. Baze has undergone physical therapy and worked with chiropractors to facilitate a return.

Baze exercised horses at Santa Anita on Thursday and said in a text message that he plans to ride horses each morning this weekend.

The injury occurred when a horse Baze was riding suffered an apparent heart attack in the stretch. Baze fell heavily and was transported from the track to a local hospital via ambulance. He was released within two hours, but has not shaken the effects of the accident.

The spill came at a tough time. Two of Baze’s leading mounts won Grade 2 stakes last weekend – Itsinthepost in the Charles Whittingham Stakes and Belvoir Bay in the Monrovia Stakes.

Through Monday, Baze, 35, had nine wins at the spring-summer meeting, leaving him in a tie for 10th in the jockey standings behind leader Flavien Prat, who has won 23 races.