Rispoli to appeal suspension for ride aboard Sword Zorro in La Jolla
Umberto Rispoli was given a four-day suspension by Del Mar stewards on Thursday for his ride on Sword Zorro in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap on Aug. 8, a decision the jockey intends to appeal, according to his agent, Scotty McClellan.
Sword Zorro was disqualified from first to third for causing interference in the final furlong. Rispoli was suspended from Thursday through Aug. 22. The penalty would not prevent Rispoli from riding the seven graded stakes at Del Mar from Aug. 21-23 because they are designated races and are exempt from routine suspension.
An appeal would put Rispoli in company with several other leading riders at the meeting who have challenged suspensions issued by stewards in recent weeks.
Through Thursday, Rispoli was tied for third in the jockey standings with 15 wins, eight behind leader Flavien Prat.
Prat was scheduled to meet with Del Mar stewards on Friday afternoon for a hearing on his ride aboard Next Revolt in Thursday’s fifth race. Next Revolt drifted to the inside after taking the lead, forcing eventual fourth-place finisher Invictatatus to be checked sharply by jockey Abel Cedillo. Next Revolt finished first but was demoted to fourth.
◗ Santa Anita has reopened its popular FrontRunner restaurant for dining and simulcast wagering during the Del Mar meeting.
Officials said in an email on Thursday that FrontRunner restaurant, which overlooks the track, will be open for the track’s autumn meeting, which runs from Oct. 1-31. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, FrontRunner was not in use when the track reopened to the general public in April.
Santa Anita has other areas open for simulcasting on a Wednesday-through-Sunday basis and will host customers in FrontRunner from Thursdays through Sundays. There is a $5 charge for admission to FrontRunner, but no charge for admission or parking to watch simulcast wagering in other parts of the track.
Following recent guidelines issued by the Los Angeles County Board of Health, face coverings are required at indoor facilities at Santa Anita.