Ricardo Santana begins serving seven-day suspension

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., a Churchill Downs-based rider who won five stakes races over Preakness weekend at Pimlico, on Sunday began serving a seven-day suspension for a riding infraction at Lone Star Park. It runs through Saturday.

In a ruling, Santana was cited by the Lone Star stewards for careless riding in the eighth race on May 6. He finished second by a head aboard Como Se Llama, who was disqualified and placed fourth in the $5,000 claiming sprint. Santana was at Lone Star to ride in the Grade 3, $200,000 Steve Sexton Mile, which he won one race later with Bee Jersey.

The ruling does not prohibit Santana from riding in designated stakes races and he could see stakes action Saturday.

“He will be able to ride two stakes at Churchill,” said Santana’s agent, Ruben Munoz.

Santana’s stakes winners at Pimlico were Switzerland in the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint; Mitole in the Chick Lang; Tap Daddy in the James W. Murphy; Song of Spring in the Grade 3 Allaire duPont Distaff; and Vertical Oak in the Skipat.

Santana also finished third in the Preakness aboard Tenfold.