by Neil Milbert, Mike Curry, and Ed DeRosa

As Rene Douglas continued to recover from injuries he sustained in the Arlington Matron Stakes (G3) that could leave him paralyzed for life, Arlington Park stewards took swift action against jockey Jamie Theriot, whose ride aboard Sky Mom contributed to Douglas’s accident.

Stewards disqualified Sky Mom from fifth to last and suspended Theriot for 30 days. Theriot rode Luv Gov to an eighth-place finish in the BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (G1) and ranks fifth among jockeys by wins in the Churchill Downs standings through Sunday.

Theriot guided Sky Mom off the rail turning for home, bumping Douglas’s mount, Born to Be, and sending her into the path of fading pacesetter Boudoir. Born to Be and Boudoir clipped heels, forcing Born to Be and Douglas to the ground. The impact knocked Born to Be unconscious, and she rolled over on top of Douglas.

An Arlington spokesman also said Sunday that Born to Be was euthanized. The A.P. Indy filly was making her second start as a four-year-old in the Matron after winning an allowance race on April 18 at Keeneland Race Course by 3 1/2 lengths for owner Chiefswood Stable and trainer Eric Coatrieux. She placed in a pair of stakes last year at Woodbine.

Bred in Kentucky by Liberty Road Stables, Born to Be was out of the Native Prospector mare Susan Powter, the dam of Grade 1 winner Joey Franco and stakes winner Miss Lawless. Born to Be was from the family of Grade 1 winner Bob Black Jack.

Chiefswood bought Born to Be for $475,000 at the 2006 Keeneland September yearling sale, and she went on to win three of 11 starts and earn $175,855.

Neil Milbert is a Chicago-based THOROUGHBRED TIMES correspondent

Ed DeRosa is news editor for THOROUGHBRED TIMES

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor