Belmont Park

Velazquez serving days, then heading for Royal Ascot

David Grening|Jun 04, 2021

Happy Soul wins the 2021 Astoria Stakes at Belmont Park

Debra A. Roma After standing a long time in the gate waiting for the Astoria to begin, jockey John Velazquez had to ask Happy Soul to show her speed. Once she made the lead, the race for all intents and purposes was over.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Saturday’s Belmont Stakes program is going to be the last day for John Velazquez in the United States for about two weeks.

On Sunday, Velazquez was to start a three-day suspension stemming from a ride on Following Sea in his debut race on March 6 at Santa Anita. Velazquez was cited for “crossing over without sufficient clearance and causing interference,” which resulted in the disqualification of Following Sea from second to third.

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Velazquez will not ride Sunday or the following Friday and Saturday. He is not riding Thursday to attend a function, according to his agent, Ron Anderson.

Velazquez is then heading to England to ride several runners for Wesley Ward at the Royal Ascot meeting.

Velazquez and Ward have formed a lethal team at the Belmont Park spring/summer meet, combining for nine wins, including Happy Soul’s 11 1/2-length victory in Thursday’s $150,000 Astoria Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

Ward said that Happy Soul, a daughter of Runhappy, would be pointed to the Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack Stakes on Aug. 8 at Saratoga.

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