Castellano, Gomez to serve suspensions

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Javier Castellano has dropped his appeal of a three-day suspension handed him by the New York stewards and will sit out Thursday through Saturday.

Castellano was given the suspension for his ride on Sterling Silver, who crossed the wire first in the Grade 2, $250,000 Gallant Bloom Stakes on Oct. 1, but was deemed to have caused interference with the third-place finisher Caramel Swirl, who was elevated from third to first. Jose Lezcano, aboard the runner-up Headland, who was disqualified from second and placed third, has already served a three-day suspension.

Castellano will be eligible to ride Sunday but will be in Panama, along with Irad Ortiz Jr., Luis Saez, and Paco Lopez, to participate in the Clasico de Caribe at Presidente Remon Racetrack.

Castellano plans to ride at Aqueduct Dec. 14 through 17 before moving his tack to Gulfstream Park.

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Meanwhile, jockey Jose Gomez will serve a five-day suspension handed him by the New York stewards for his ride on Pine Alley in the seventh race on Nov. 25. Pine Alley, breaking from the outside post, cut across six paths and forced Romero Maragh to steady on Grand Again.

Since Grand Again finished third and Pine Alley sixth, there was no jockey’s objection. There was also no stewards’ inquiry into the start.

Gomez’s suspension covers five racing days – Dec. 7 through 10, and the 14th.

Gomez is currently the sixth-leading rider at the Aqueduct fall meet with 10 wins from 90 mounts.

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