Black-Eyed Susan Stakes features riderless horses

Staff report

BALTIMORE

It’s difficult to determine which was more stunning: Acting Happy winning the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, or the sight of two horses crossing the finish line without jockeys in the saddle.

Acting Happy was the surprise winner Friday in the Grade 2 race for 3-year-old fillies. After going off as a 10-1 underdog, she gained the lead in the stretch under Jose Lezcano and beat No Such Word by 11/2 lengths.

Not long after the top seven horses hit the wire, two more sauntered across the line without riders on top. It’s an unusual occurrence when one jockey gets thrown, let alone two, but that’s precisely what happened after C C’s Pal had her heels clipped by Diva Delight.

Kent Desormeaux, who was behind the mishap on Seeking the Title, was dumped from his horse and Julien Leparoux was tossed from Diva Delite.

A friend of Leparoux, Fanny Salmon, spoke to him after he returned to the jockey quarters and took him to the hospital.

“He broke a tooth, and he’s experiencing some chest pains,” Salmon said. “He has a bruise and they want to take X-rays to know exactly what’s wrong with him.”

Leparoux is scheduled to ride Plesant Prince in the Preakness. It was uncertain whether he would be able to mount the horse.

Desormeaux emerged from the spill in good condition.