Frey gets one-day suspension for whip violation

Jockey Kyle Frey, who won the richest of his career in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar last weekend, will serve a one-day suspension this Saturday for a whip violation on Aug. 30.

Frey was cited for striking Dorine’s Wild Cat seven times during the fourth race that day, a $9,000 to $10,000 claimer for fillies and mares at a mile. Dorine’s Wild Cat (9-2) finished second by a neck to 4-1 Soul of a Warrior. In addition to the one-day penalty on Saturday, Frey was fined $250.

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Frey rode Mixto to an upset win in the $1 million Pacific Classic, the richest race of the track’s summer meeting. Earlier on the Aug. 30 program, Frey rode Gold Phoenix to a win in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap on turf.

Through Monday, the most recent day of racing, Frey was fifth in the jockey standings with 17 wins, 25 fewer than leader Juan Hernandez.

Aside from the two major stakes wins, Frey is in the midst of his best Del Mar summer season. He won 14 races in the 2021 summer meeting, and 12 in 2022. Last year, Frey had one win in 29 mounts, but rode only the opening weeks of the meeting before taking a hiatus from riding to focus on mental health. He returned to riding last September.

Frey, 32, was the champion apprentice in 2011.

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