Man who once rode Derby horse found dead

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A 24-year-old jockey who rode this year's Kentucky Derby second-place finisher to his only win was found dead in his vehicle Tuesday at Churchill Downs.

Michael Baze of Glendora, Calif., was pronounced dead at 4:47 p.m. EDT in his vehicle parked in the stable area of the track, Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Jim Wesley said.

There were no signs of foul play and the case was being treated as a death investigation, Louisville police spokeswoman Alicia Smiley said. An autopsy was planned.

Baze was a cousin of Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze, the all-time leading rider in thoroughbred racing, and son of retired jockey Mike Baze, Churchill Downs spokesman John Asher said. An uncle and another cousin are also riders, Asher said.

"Somebody coming out of that family, it always gets your attention when you see the Baze name," Asher said.

Michael Baze rode Nehro to a win Feb. 21 at Oaklawn. He was scheduled on at least one mount on Thursday at Churchill Downs, Asher said.