Ortiz brothers start Belmont meet in penalty box

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Brothers Jose and Irad Ortiz Jr. finished first and second in the Saratoga jockey standings, winning a combined 118 races through Sunday.

They will begin the Belmont fall meet on the sidelines, as both are serving suspensions incurred at Saratoga for careless-riding incidents.

Jose, who won his first Saratoga riding title, will miss the first three days of the Belmont meet for his ride aboard Paz the Wine, who finished fourth in the third race on Aug. 25. Paz the Wine bumped with Lem Me Dance, who won the race.

Irad, who finished second in the standings, will miss the first five days of the meet for his ride on Recruiting Ready, who finished second in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special but was disqualified to fourth for causing interference multiple times near the three-eighths pole, according to the stewards’ ruling.

Irad Ortiz will be permitted to ride starting Sept. 16.