New York stewards suspend Irad Ortiz Jr.; fine two others

The stewards suspended jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. five days for careless riding in the 10th race on Sunday’s card at Saratoga.

The stewards also fined jockeys Tyler Gaffalione and Eric Cancel $2,000 each for separate riding infractions over the weekend.

Ortiz rode Significant Form in Sunday’s 10th race. Entering the first turn, Ortiz guided Significant Form to the inside, impeding another horse. Significant Form had stumbled entering the first turn, but recovered to win the race as much the best. He was disqualified and placed seventh.

Ortiz plans to appeal the suspension.

Meanwhile, Gaffalione was fined $2,000 for failure to maintain a straight course on Empirically in last Saturday’s third race. Empirically finished first but was disqualified to second.

Cancel was fined $2,000 for riding Swayed in what the stewards said was an “aggressive and unprofessional manner” in Sunday’s seventh race. Cancel and his mount were on the lead before Jose Ortiz guided 6-5 favorite First Appeal through a narrow opening along the hedge to get the win. The stewards felt Cancel was leaning on Ortiz and First Appeal as that filly squeezed through.

“His elbow was out, he was leaning on top of him,” state steward Steve Lewandowski said. “We found that to be aggressive. He’s coming out of the saddle to the left. We want him to ride his own horse.”