2011 Belmont Stakes: Did Rajiv Maragh Cost Animal Kingdom the Victory?

The Daily Racing Form reported that John Velazquez, jockey of Animal Kingdom, claims Rajiv Maragh, the jockey on Isn’t He Perfect, may have made a deliberate left-hand turn in order to impede Mucho Macho Man, who was in post 10, one inside Isn't He Perfect.

Velazquez' allegations were made in a conference call with reporters on Sunday. The claims are based on the belief that Maragh, who rode Isn’t He Perfect, was trying to get back at the connections of Mucho Macho Man because he was taken off the mount after the Preakness.

Rajiv Maragh got the mount on Mucho Macho Man for the Risen Star Stakes after Eibar Coa fractured the C-4 vertebra in his neck in a spill in Gulfstream Park February 18. He won the Risen Star and then rode him in the Louisiana Derby, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.

The 2010 Eclipse Award winner for outstanding jockey, Ramon Dominguez replaced Maragh on Mucho Macho Man in the Belmont.

After the jockey change was announced for the Belmont, Mucho Macho Man’s trainer Kathy Ritvo said that the change of riders was about making a change for change's sake, and not necessarily an indictment of Maragh's ride in the Preakness or the Derby.

John Velazquez was quoted as saying:

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"That's why I was so frustrated. Things happen in a race. If it would have happened right out of the gate I wouldn't have been so frustrated because things happen right from the start. But this happened three or four jumps after the start so that's why I was frustrated. It shouldn't happen. He should not be playing something like that in a race like this. It's stupidity and it shouldn't happen.''

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Maragh afterwards denied Velazquez claims by saying:

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"At no time did I premeditate interfering with anyone. I've always had the greatest respect for Johnny Velazquez and Ramon Dominguez. I appreciate what the owners and trainer of Mucho Macho Man have done for me. They let me ride the horse in the Risen Star and gave me the opportunity to ride him in the Kentucky Derby. I have nothing vengeful against them. I talked to the owners prior to the race and we wished each other good luck."

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In Maragh's defense, he recalled the incidents involving Javier Castellano and Calvin Borel in last year’s Breeders Cup Marathon and Ramon Dominguez aboard Scrappy T with Jeremy Rose on Afleet Alex in the 2005 Preakness, questioning if they were premeditated.

These are rough words that are very tough to consider being true, especially when they are about things that happened in a race like the Belmont Stakes.

Even when the issue is about being replaced in a mount for the Belmont Stakes, it is hard to believe that a jockey like Maragh, just to get back at someone, would jeopardize his career by doing this at any race. Even more unbelievable is that he would do so when the stakes are as high as in the Belmont.

By doing this he would not only impede the other horse from winning, but he could put the life of one or more jockey in danger, all due to a personal vendetta.

Playing Devil’s Advocate, what makes us even consider these allegations is that they were made by John Velazquez. He is one of the most respected jockeys in the industry and is not known for being a trouble maker or looking to make these kinds of allegations.

Could these words have been said by John Velazquez in the heat of the moment? Or is there any truth in them?

Barry Irwin, the outspoken president of Animal Kingdom's syndicate owners Team Valor International, didn’t blame Maragh. But he has expressed himself against Isn't He Perfect’s participation in the Belmont, saying that "Classics are no place for amateurs."

Mucho Macho Man’s trainer Kathy Ritvo doesn't think Maragh intentionally went after her colt.

Soon we will know more about this issue. On Wednesday morning, the stewards have called Velazquez, Maragh and Dominguez in for a review of the race.