Shock at Saratoga! 3 Top Jockeys Suspended in Final Race Week!

Jockeys Jose Lezcano, John Velazquez, and Irad Ortiz Jr. are set to face suspensions during the next week of racing at Saratoga.

Both Lezcano and Velazquez will be on suspension from Wednesday to Friday, whereas Ortiz will be out for just Wednesday. A regulation enacted last year in New York mandates that jockeys serve their suspensions at the venue where the infractions took place. Consequently, they cannot delay these suspensions to coincide with the autumn races at Aqueduct. These suspensions were initially disclosed by David Grening of Daily Racing Form.

Lezcano faces a three-day suspension due to his handling of Albedo in the eighth race on August 18, a $30,000 maiden claimer for New York-breds over a mile on dirt. He was penalized for letting his horse shift outward, which led to interference with multiple horses on the outside, causing them to change their paths. Albedo finished third, and although there was a stewards’ inquiry regarding the final stretch of the race, he was not disqualified.

Velazquez will also undergo a three-day suspension for his involvement in the 10th race on August 16, an allowance-optional claiming race for fillies over 1 1/16 miles on turf. His mount, Vino Rouge, initially finished first but was relegated to fourth after a stewards’ inquiry determined she had moved out late, triggering a domino effect on the outside.

Ortiz has been handed a one-day suspension and a $500 fine for breaching Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority crop regulations while riding Tommy Two Socks in a claiming-level dirt sprint on August 18 at Saratoga. The official ruling from the HISA website notes that there was no purse forfeiture or points assigned, but Ortiz will nonetheless sit out Wednesday.

As the final week of the Saratoga season approaches, Ortiz leads the pack with 42 victories, five ahead of his nearest competitor, Flavien Prat. Velazquez has secured 14 wins so far, and Lezcano has achieved 10.