Ayuso suspended seven days; Fresu to appeal three-day penalty
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DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Armando Ayuso has been suspended seven racing days for an incident in the sixth race at Del Mar on Aug. 16, when his mount was disqualified from first place for causing interference that led to another rider being unseated.
Ayuso is suspended for the final five days of the current summer meeting – from Thursday through Monday – and the first two days of the Los Alamitos September meeting, Sept. 11-12.
In the Aug. 16 race, Ayuso was aboard Whynotanotherone, the 9-10 favorite, who drifted to the inside as the field approached the first turn. In the incident, jockey Ali Husain checked his mount, Texas Wildcat, who clipped heels and fell.
Whynotanotherone was disqualified from first and listed as unplaced. Husain was not injured and rode later on Aug. 16.
Through Sunday, Ayuso ranked seventh in the Del Mar jockey standings with 16 wins. He was among three riders who tied for first place in the standings at the three-week summer meeting at Los Alamitos in June and early July.
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Meanwhile, Jockey Antonio Fresu plans to appeal a three-day suspension for causing interference in the eighth race at Del Mar on Friday. Fresu was cited for his ride on Big Blast, who won a maiden race for 2-year-old statebred fillies at a mile on turf by a neck.
Big Blast bumped rival Nyce Shot twice in the stretch. Nyce Shot finished fourth by two lengths and was a neck behind third-place finisher Just Work It Out. After an inquiry, the stewards did not change the order of finish.
Fresu will appeal the suspension, according to his agent, Ron Anderson. The suspension is scheduled for Sept. 12-13 and Sept. 18.
Fresu said last week that he plans to relocate to Belmont Park when that track begins its fall meeting on Sept. 18. Through Sunday, Fresu ranked third in the standings at Del Mar with 26 wins.
◗ Del Mar has moved first post time forward 30 minutes, to 1:30 p.m. Pacific, this Saturday through Monday, the final three days of the current summer meeting. The track is planning 11-race programs. First post on Thursday and Friday will be 2 p.m. Pacific.