Jockey Tyler Gaffalione could face disciplinary action following his ride aboard Sierra Leone, the runner-up in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission stated on Monday that Gaffalione has been directed by stewards to attend a "film review" of the race on Thursday. Stewards routinely conduct film reviews to evaluate jockeys' conduct during a race. They can take disciplinary action at their discretion following the review.
Gaffalione guided Sierra Leone to a late-running, second-place finish, just a nose behind Mystik Dan. Sierra Leone narrowly beat Japan-bred Forever Young for second place.
During the final furlong, Gaffalione and Sierra Leone engaged in a physical battle with Forever Young and jockey Ryusei Sakai. The horses made contact several times, and there is photographic evidence suggesting Gaffalione made contact with Forever Young using his left hand.
Gaffalione commented after the race, "He wanted to lean in today and made it a little difficult. I had a hard time keeping him straight, and that definitely cost us. He gives you everything, very responsive, but he loses concentration."
Sierra Leone's trainer, Chad Brown, defended Gaffalione on Sunday morning, explaining that Gaffalione was trying to make room for his left stick, which Sierra Leone respects and keeps him straight. Brown said, "The bumping and the tight duel between those horses disarmed him with the stick. All he had was a rein to pull on, and it really hurt his momentum."
Sakai did not file a claim of foul after the race. Hiroshi Ando, racing manager for Forever Young trainer Yoshito Yahagi, explained, "Claims of foul do not happen much in Japan. It is the stewards’ call, not us."
Some race fans have criticized the race stewards for not initiating an inquiry into the Sierra Leone-Forever Young battle.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission addressed this in its statement, saying, "The stewards review every race in Kentucky live and by video replay before posting it official, and they followed the same procedure for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.
After conducting their standard review of the race, determining no further review or investigation was necessary to conclude there were no incidents that altered the finish of the race, and seeing there were no objections filed, the stewards posted the Kentucky Derby official."