Breeders' Cup F&M Sprint: Soul of an Angel jockey Van Dyke fined, suspended for excessive whip use

DEL MAR, Calif. - Jockey Drayden Van Dyke has been fined $15,600 and suspended three days for overuse of the whip in his winning ride aboard Soul of an Angel in Saturday’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar, according to a ruling published by Del Mar stewards on Sunday.

The ruling stated that Van Dyke used his whip seven times, one more than the permitted level. The infraction was Van Dyke’s third such incident in the last six months, resulting in more severe penalties.

Had this been Van Dyke’s first infraction for excessive use of the whip, the penalty would have been a $5,200 fine, or 10 percent of his winnings of $52,000 from the race, and a one-day penalty. Because his violation on Soul of an Angel was his third infraction in six months, the penalties were tripled.

The suspension days are Nov. 10 and 15-16.

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Van Dyke, 30, was cited for similar infractions at Gulfstream Park on Sept. 14 and on Oct. 25.

The Del Mar stewards cited penalty guidelines enacted by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Alliance in their decision.

In a brief phone conversation on Sunday, Van Dyke said he was deliberating whether to appeal.

Soul of an Angel rallied from last of nine to win the $1 million BC Filly and Mare Sprint by a half-length at 19-1. The winner’s share was $520,000; Van Dyke received 10 percent of that sum.

Van Dyke rode in California until June, when he relocated to Gulfstream Park.

In recent years, Van Dyke has had several suspensions and fines for excessive use of the whip.

Van Dyke was involved in the most high-profile such case in California when Bolt’s Broad was disqualified from first and listed as unplaced after Van Dyke used his whip 11 times aboard the filly in a maiden race at Del Mar in September 2022. Owner Ruis Racing was ordered to forfeit $60,000 in prize money - $48,000 for the win, and a $12,000 bonus paid by Del Mar for winning a maiden race on dirt.

Van Dyke was also fined $960 and suspended three days for that infraction.

Jockeys Paco Lopez and Juan Hernandez have been suspended for infractions at Del Mar on Oct. 31 and last Friday.

Hernandez was penalized for using his whip eight times on News at Ten, who finished second in an allowance race on Oct. 31. Hernandez will be suspended on Friday and Saturday of the forthcoming racing week. He was fined $1,000.

Lopez was given a three-day suspension – Nov. 9-10 and 15 – for failing to maintain a straight course and causing interference on the backstretch of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint aboard Governor Sam, who set the pace and eventually finished third. There was no change to the order of finish.

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