Jockey Geovanni Franco suspended four days

ARCADIA, Calif. – Geovanni Franco, the second-leading rider at the Santa Anita spring-summer meeting, has been suspended four racing days, from Friday through May 24, for his role in a disqualification in the eighth race on May 10.

Franco, 27, was cited for his ride on South Boot Shirley who finished third but was demoted to seventh after Franco crossed to the inside without clearance going into the first turn of the one-mile turf race for California-bred maiden fillies and mares.

The suspension comes when Franco is having his best success since he began riding in California last summer. Through Sunday, Franco had 16 wins at the meeting, second to Flavien Prat, who led with 18 wins.

Franco’s top mount this year has been Fault, who is unbeaten in three stakes for fillies and mares, including the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitational on March 17.