Five riders suspended for careless riding, all appeal and are granted stays
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The New York stewards on Friday released rulings against five jockeys for seven careless riding infractions at Belmont Park and Saratoga.
All five riders have appealed their suspensions, stays have been granted, and all may continue to ride until hearings are held.
Irad Ortiz Jr. was given a pair of five-day suspensions. The first came for his ride on Blackjack Davey, who on July 2 at Belmont Park won a maiden special race by 4 1/2 lengths. Blackjack Davey did drift in front of Royal Suspect, but the stewards felt the incident did not impact the outcome of the race and therefore did not disqualify Blackjack Davey from first.
Ortiz also received a five-day suspension for his ride on Artie’s Princess, who finished fourth in the Coronation Cup Stakes at Saratoga on July 31. Artie’s Princess came in on She’s My Type, who in turn bumped Bredenbury, who then bothered Lexi On the Move. The stewards did disqualify Artie’s Princess from fourth and placed her last.
Javier Castellano was also handed two suspensions, each three days in duration. The first one was for Castellano’s ride on Value Engineering in the first race at Saratoga on July 17. Value Engineering was disqualified from second to third for bumping Bundibunan in the stretch. Bundibunan was elevated from third to second.
Castellano was also suspended for his ride on Sadler’s Joy in the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green Stakes on Aug. 1 when that horse came in on others in the stretch en route to crossing the wire first. Sadler’s Joy was disqualified to fourth.
Jose Ortiz was handed a three-day suspension for careless riding during the seventh race at Belmont on July 3. He won the race aboard Fractorization, who herded runner-up Snicket. The stewards did not make a change in that order of finish.
Manny Franco was handed a three-day suspension for his ride on Price Talk in the second race at Saratoga on July 16. Price Talk was disqualified from first and placed fourth.
Tyler Gaffalione was suspended three days for his ride on Unholy Alliance, who won the fourth race at Saratoga on July 31. Unholy Alliance came in on Lady T N T nearing the quarter pole, forcing that one to check. The stewards, after an inquiry did not make a change to the order of finish.