Four jockeys penalized for whip violations

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jockeys Ricardo Santana Jr., Joel Rosario, Katie Davis, and Ruben Silvera are each serving one-day suspensions issued by NYRA steward Victor Escobar on behalf of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority.

The suspensions were all due to violations of the crop rule, which limits jockeys to six strikes during the running of a race. Each of the riders sanctioned used the crop seven times in their respective races. Santana and Rosario were each fined $500 while Davis and Silvera were both fined $250. The fines reflect the size of the purse for each race.

Santana was deemed to have hit Ocean Club seven times in her victory by a head in the Grade 3, $175,000 Noble Damsel Stakes on Sept. 21. Rosario hit Pentathlon seven times in that horse’s third-place finish in a Sept. 20 allowance race, which carried a $92,000 purse

Davis hit River Tay (fifth in a $40,000 claimer) and Silvera hit Parkerness (fourth in a $35,000 claimer), also on Sept. 20.

It’s crowded at the top

After the first three weeks, or 11 racing days, of the Belmont at the Big A meet, there is logjam atop the jockey standings.

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Dylan Davis and Kendrick Carmouche are tied for the top spot with 12 wins apiece. Flavien Prat and Irad Ortiz Jr. each have 11 wins. Manny Franco sits fifth with nine wins.

With this week’s opening of the Keeneland fall meet, riders are likely to be on the move frequently over the next three weeks.

The Belmont at the Big A meet still has five weeks (20 racing days) remaining.

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