Dancing with the Stars eliminated Victor Espinoza and his professional partner Karina Smirnoff during Tuesday night's broadcast of the series' 21st season on ABC.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Triple Crown-winning jockey and Karina became the second couple eliminated from the competition based on the combination of the Dancing with the Stars judges' scores they had received during Monday night's performance show and the home viewer votes that were cast immediately afterwards.
"I had an amazing time, and especially tonight. Tonight it was just special for me because I wanted to dance for Karina and everybody else with all my heart. I know yesterday I was a little off because those pants are so tight," Victor said as the audience erupted with laughter.
Victor and Karina had finished in twelfth place Monday night, finishing in last place on the judges' leaderboard after Chaka Khan's elimination.
Last night, Victor and Karina fell into ninth place on the leaderboard after they received 20 out of 30 points from DWTS judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Julianne Hough for their rumba routine. The episode featured all the pro dancers paying tribute to their hometowns.
ADVERTISEMENT
Oscar winning actor Gary Busey and partner Anna Trebunskaya were the other couple in jeopardy -- for the second night in a row -- prior to Victor and Karina's ouster, but they were not necessarily one of the bottom-two couples based on the judges' scores and America's votes from Monday night.
Tuesday night's DWTS episode concluded with a different leaderboard topper. Tamar Braxton, a singer, talk show host and sister of Toni Braxton and partner Val Chmerkovskiy finished in first place with 25 points after performing a Charleston routine.
Backstreet Boys member and partner Sharna Burgess claimed second place on the judges' leaderboard with 24 points. They danced a foxtrot routine.
Third place, at 23 points, was a three way tie amongst the following celebrities: Internet sensation Hayes Grier, crooner Andy Grammer, and Bindi Irwin, the daughter of the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin.
Hayes and partner Emma Slater performed the quickstep, Andy and partner Allison Holker danced a contemporary routine, and Bindi and partner Derek Hough took the stage with a waltz.
ADVERTISEMENT
Two couples also tied for sixth place with 22 points. Train hero Alek Skarlatos and partner Lindsay Arnold performed a quickstep routine, while Spy Kids star Alexa PenaVega and partner Mark Ballas danced the rumba.
Eighth place went to Big Time Rush singer Carlos PenaVega and partner Witney Carson with 21 points after they took the stage with the cha cha.
Following Karina and Victor in ninth place with 20 points came a tie for tenth place between two couples -- celebrity chef Paula Deen and partner Louis van Amstel as well as Don't Be Tardy and The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kim Zolciak and partner Tony Dovolani.
Paula and Louis danced the tango and received 18 points from the judges. Kim and Tony also earned 18 points for a foxtrot routine.
Twelfth -- and last -- place last night went to Anna and Gary, who performed the paso doble and received 15 points from the judges.
ADVERTISEMENT
Another Dancing with the Stars performance show will air Monday, September 28 at 8PM ET/PT on ABC.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski