Saez to serve suspensions during first eight days of meet

ELMONT, N.Y. – Jockey Luis Saez will miss the first eight days of the condensed 25-day Belmont Park spring/summer meet while he serves out two suspensions from 2019.

Saez will miss Wednesday’s opening-day card as that will be the final day of the 15-day suspension handed him by the Churchill Downs stewards for his ride on Maximum Security in the 2019 Kentucky Derby, in which the horse was disqualified from first and placed 17th for interfering with several runners nearing the top of the stretch.

:: Start earning weekly cashback on your wagering today. Click to learn more.

Saez then has to sit out seven racing days – June 4-13 – as the result of a suspension handed him by the Belmont Park stewards for his ride on Anne Dupree in the seventh race last June 28 at Belmont.

Anne Dupree finished first in that race, but in midstretch she veered in a path, causing the rider on Enlisting to check and alter course. Enlisting eventually dead-heated for second with Madame Barbarian. Anne Dupree was disqualified and placed third behind those two.

Saez appealed that suspension, but the New York State Gaming Commission denied the appeal.

Saez, who last rode May 17, will be eligible to return June 14.