Jockeys Martinez, Diaz to serve suspensions

ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockeys Felipe Martinez and J.C. Diaz Jr. will serve three-day suspensions beginning this week for riding infractions at Santa Anita earlier this month.

Martinez was cited for failing to maintain a straight course on Annitasheaven on the backstretch of the seventh race on Feb. 16. Annitasheaven was near the front early, but faded to finish last of eight at 66-1. The stewards conducted an inquiry into the running but did not change the order of finish because Annitasheaven was ruled to have caused the interference.

Martinez’s suspension begins Sunday and continues the following Thursday and Friday.

Diaz, an 18-year-old apprentice who began riding here earlier this month, was cited for his ride on Swirling in the fifth race on Feb. 10. Swirling won a $20,000 claimer at five furlongs on turf, but drifted to the inside in the stretch. After an inquiry, the order of finish was not changed, but Diaz was cited for failing to maintain a straight course.

Diaz’s three-day suspension runs from Friday through Sunday.