Ortiz faces two suspensions
ELMONT, N.Y. - Irad Ortiz Jr., the second-leading rider at the meet, received two careless-riding suspensions in a span of three racing days.
On Sunday, he is to begin serving a three-day ban for careless riding in the Manila Stakes on June 28, when his mount, the favored Green Mask, came over and bothered Long On Value, who recovered to finish second, while Green Mask finished fourth.
Ortiz will miss Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday. He was initially suspended for seven days, but it was reduced to three for waiving his right of appeal.
The stewards then slapped Ortiz with a five-day careless-riding suspension for his ride on Majestic Jess in Wednesday’s sixth race. Majestic Jess came in and forced Make a Decision, under jockey Cornelio Velasquez, to steady in midstretch. Make a Decision came back on to beat out Majestic Jess for second.
Ortiz will appeal that suspension, according to his agent, Steve Rushing.