Beulah Park: Jockey Pusac suspended three days for letting up on mount

Jockey Alberto Pusac on Friday was fined $500 and suspended three racing days for easing up on his mount in mid-stretch of the fourth race Wednesday at Beulah Park. Pusac had a five-length lead aboard Sterling Emblem in upper stretch of the $2,500 claiming race but raised up in the saddle nearing the sixteenth pole and ended up finishing third at 23-1.

Pusac declined to comment on the incident Friday afternoon but Joe Deluca, one of the three Beulah Park stewards, said Pusac told them his mount saw the starting gate and tractor in the stretch of the mile and 70-yard event and he thought she was going to prop. Pusac told the stewards that after a few jumps she seemed okay so he resumed riding. Pusac is scheduled to serve his days on Jan. 25, 27, and 28.

Pusac, a 40-year-old native of Peru, began riding in his native country in 1991. He has ridden at tracks in the eastern and midwestern United States since 2006 and has been based at Beulah Park since 2009. He has ridden 343 winners in the U.S. and finished seventh in the Beulah Park fall meet standings with 23 wins from 174 mounts.