Four jockeys to serve suspensions next week for riding infractions
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Irad Ortiz Jr., the leading rider at the Saratoga meet, is one of four jockeys who will be serving suspensions next week for careless riding infractions earlier in the meet.
Ortiz, was cited by the stewards for his ride aboard Nabokov, who finished fifth in the eighth race on Aug. 18. In that race, Ortiz allowed his mount to come over in midstretch and bump with Winit, who finished a head behind Nabokov in sixth. Though there was no inquiry posted or jockey’s objection lodged, the stewards disqualified Nabokov from fifth and placed him sixth.
Ortiz will serve the suspension Aug. 31 through Sept. 2.
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Joel Rosario, the third leading rider at the meet with 29 wins, was cited for careless riding aboard Sassy Mellissa, who came out and bumped another horse and was disqualified from third to fourth in the third race here on Aug. 18.
Rosario will serve his suspension Sunday and Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.
Javier Castellano dropped his appeal of a careless-riding suspension stemming from the eighth race on Aug. 3. He will serve his days from Aug. 31 through Sept. 2.
Castellano won that race by a neck aboard Dot’s Dollar. Though there was an inquiry and jockey’s objection lodged by the rider of the runner-up, the stewards made no change to the order of finish.
Jockey Trevor McCarthy has dropped an appeal of a suspension handed him for his ride in the 12th race on Aug. 6 when he was disqualified from second on Conquist and placed fourth for interference with fourth-place finisher Curlin’s Wisdom. McCarthy will serve his days Sunday, as well as Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.