Santana to miss some mounts at Oaklawn due to quarantine

Ricardo Santana Jr. who is the leading rider at Oaklawn Park, will be taken off the horses he is named to ride Sunday at the Hot Springs, Ark., track as he begins a 12-day quarantine period in precautions Oaklawn is taking after Santana spent Saturday riding at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Santana also will be taken off horses he is named to ride Thursday at Oaklawn. The track policy under which Santana is being quarantined was put in place in the last 10 days due to the coronavirus pandemic. At this point, it concerns riders coming to Oaklawn from Fair Grounds, according to Bernie Hettel, state steward for the Arkansas Racing Commission.

“Ricardo Santana, who left us to ride there today, won’t be allowed to ride for the next 12 calendar days, so he’ll be back April 3 by our counting,” Hettel said Saturday. “Jockeys who go to Will Rogers and Sam Houston can do it freely.”

There are 763 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Louisiana, according to the latest numbers issued by the state's Department of Health. Santana traveled to Fair Grounds to ride, among other horses, Finite, who was the odds-on favorite for the Grade 2, $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks. The races were run spectator-free ontrack at Fair Grounds.

“I understand his choice completely,” Hettel said. “You have to go ride a horse like that. Unfortunately, it will keep him on the shelf for 12 days.”

Ruben Munoz, agent for Santana, said his rider was obligated to be at Fair Grounds on Saturday. He said he was made aware of the Oaklawn policy on Friday.

“We cannot not show up for the biggest day of the year at Fair Grounds,” said Munoz.

Munoz said after the quarantine period the plan is for Santana to resume riding at Oaklawn.

Santana is a six-time title winner at Oaklawn. He leads the current standings with 36 wins and also tops all riders in mount earnings through Saturday at Oaklawn, with $2.5 million. Talamo is second in the standings with 31 wins through Saturday.

Santana was not named to ride horses at Oaklawn for Friday, with entries for that card taken Saturday.

Oaklawn has been taking temperatures of those participating in racing and also of those entering the grandstand for work, with medical staff situated at entrances. Oaklawn has been racing spectator-free ontrack since last Friday.