Jockey Rajiv Maragh was suspended 10 days yesterday by the stewards, but got it reduced to seven because he declined to appeal, for careless riding in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, when his mount Isn’t He Perfect drifted in several strides out of the gate, crowding Mucho Macho Man into 5-2 favorite Animal Kingdom, causing him to clip heels and stumble.

Animal Kingdom’s jockey, John Velazquez, almost fell off and lost his left iron in the incident. It took him 1/16th of a mile to get his boot back into the stirrup, and by then Animal Kingdom had effectively been eliminated from the race. After rallying on the far turn, he finished sixth. Isn’t He Perfect finished last of 12 as the 30-1 rank outsider.

Analyst Richard Migliore suggested Maragh, who rode Mucho Macho Man in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, veered in purposely.

“It’s definitely an unfortunate incident,” Maragh said. “Unintentional.”