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Irad Ortiz Jr. Suspended for 30 Days

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. has been handed a 30-day suspension by the Aqueduct stewards for his ride aboard Gran Casique (Algorithms) in the eighth race on Friday. News of the suspension was confirmed late Sunday by NYRA spokesman Pat McKenna. McKenna said the suspension would begin “some time this week.”

Aboard Gran Casique, Ortiz came over several paths toward the rail on the run down the backstretch and cut off Ragtime Blues (Union Rags) and apprentice jockey Omar Hernandez Moreno. The infraction was so egregious that the Equibase chart caller wrote: “Gran Casique angled in with reckless abandon and bumped Ragtime Blues at the five-eighths and bumped him hard which caused that foe to lose his rider…” Moreno was not seriously hurt.

Gran Casique was disqualified and placed last.

The stewards apparently agreed with the chart caller, handing Ortiz a suspension that went well beyond the normal five or seven-day penalty usually given to jockeys for careless riding.

Calls to Ortiz's agent Steve Rushing were not returned Sunday. David Grening of the Daily Racing Form reported that Ortiz will not appeal the ruling.

The suspension came on the same day that Ortiz wrapped up the riding title at the 15-day Aqueduct fall meet with 21 wins from 76 mounts. He was not at Aqueduct Sunday and was instead was riding at Hipodromo Camerero in his native Puerto Rico, as was his brother, Jose. Irad Ortiz won three races on the Camerero card.

Ortiz's ride in the GII Remsen S. Saturday at Aqueduct, which he won with Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo), also resulted in controversy. Crossing the wire a nose in front of Zandon (Upstart), he came over, bumped with that rival in deep stretch and put him in tight quarters. The stewards let the result stand.

Social media took notice of the rides by Ortiz, who is often accused of “herding” other riders.

“Aggressive riding is one thing but constantly riding the edge, and sometimes crossing it, is another,” NYRA's Andy Serling wrote on Twitter after the Remsen. “Upon reflection, and further viewing, I think there should have been a DQ in the Remsen. @iradortiz is a great rider but he needs to reflect on his tactics going forward.”

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Letter to the Editor: John Sikura

The case of Bob Baffert has been, sad but fascinating to watch. It has served to be the perfect foil for agenda-driven companies and organizations to attach a face to 'the cause.' Due process and the right to defend oneself with veracity is the foundational tenet of this country. It protects citizens from overreaching by entities such as Churchill, NYRA and others banning Baffert from running at their tracks until adjudication is reached–not dictated. The actions of Churchill Downs clearly prioritize what we already know, which is that the value proposition of the Kentucky Derby is their one commitment to racing. The serial monetizing of racetracks, and devotion to casino and historical racing revenue leave them without a credible position except as very good drivers of CDI stock value. The leading face of racing is excluded from racing at Churchill and cannot earn Derby points while the premise argument (veterinary-prescribed topical skin cream) has proven to be validated. Will the NYRA now reverse itself or cling to its ban? Admonished by a judge for sidestepping due process and a new hearing scheduled to decide the right of Baffert to race at their tracks, this new evidence is assuredly exculpatory for Baffert. What about The Jockey Club? They have taken a lead position on HISA and have committed to exposing cheats while fairly dealing with violations. They joined the NYRA suit in their brief and therefore should publicly state a position. This is a good test for them as well.

I wish to make my position clear that I am against all forms of cheating or illegal drug use. Those convicted of such should face the harshest of penalties. I also believe that jealousy and innuendo without proof are unfair and tarnish the reputation of our game and can cost people their careers. Ignoring thresholds of therapeutic drugs, inconsistent withdrawal times, human error or environmental contamination is not realistic testing. The intent should be to eliminate all illegal drugs from our game and deal with 'positives' in a manner which attaches penalties uniformly and fairly. I hope and trust that HISA will accomplish all of this and more.

In the interim, the Baffert barn is responsible for following the rules and protocols of racing in each jurisdiction he races and that is not debated by me. I do contest the piling on in advance of final proof and draconian punishment of banishment as commensurate penalty for the 'violations.' None have included illegal drugs and none have tested at a threshold to enhance performance.

I close by admitting that it was probably best if this letter was not written and I said nothing publicly. Bob Baffert has been a friend and an important part of my life and business so you can question my objectivity. I would counter by saying that those who know me know I speak candidly and without adherence to public opinion or consensus. I don't absolve him of being responsible for his barn, I only write the letter as his detractors have been vocal, organized and many. I for one wish to tilt the scales and offer my support.

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Aqueduct Plagued By Timing Issues, Malfunctioning Photo Finish Technology On Dec. 2 Card

An equipment malfunction during Aqueduct's sixth race on Dec. 2 left stewards to determine the order of finish by video. The starter allowance race was won by Electric Youth at odds of 10-1 over Chloe Rose, but after a delay, third place was determined to be a dead heat between Thegoddessofsnakes and Rosey's Peach. No photo of the third place finish was shown after the official placings, and evidently one does not exist.

“NYRA is reviewing the circumstances that prevented the creation of a photo finish image of today's 6th race at Aqueduct Racetrack,” said Pat McKenna, senior director of communications for the New York Racing Association, in a statement. “In the absence of that image, the placing judges reviewed the finish by utilizing the enhanced video replay system available to the stewards. Under the rules of racing in New York State, the placing judges have sole discretion in determining the order of finish, which was 5-2-1,8 (DH).”

According to the race's chart, finish margins were collected manually by the chartcaller “due to an issue by Teletimer with the photo.”

Elsewhere on the race card, times were unavailable for the eighth race due to an unspecified timing issue noted in the chart. The quarter-mile time for the ninth race was also unavailable due to a timing issue.

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Double Pick 6 Carryover Of $288K Into Friday’s Card At Aqueduct

Friday's card will be bolstered by a double Pick 6 carryover of $288,843 as the multi-race wager went unsolved on Thursday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The $1 Pick 6 returned $504.50 to bettors who selected 5-of-6 winners correctly.

Thursday's sequence kicked off in Race 4 with Radio Days [No. 4, $2.50] impressing as the mutuel favorite in a seven-furlong allowance optional claiming sprint for juvenile fillies under Dylan Davis for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.

Sandrone [No. 5, $6.60], the 2-1 public choice, captured Race 5 with Luis Saez up for H. James Bond in a six-furlong outer turf sprint for New York-bred juveniles before Electric Youth [No. 5, $23.40] spiced up the sequence at odds of 10-1 with Saez up for Rudy Rodriguez in Race 6. Saez completed a natural hat trick by winning Race 7 with the Bond-trained Reckless Spirit [No. 7, $16].

Space Launch [No. 2, $21] found the wire in time to win Race 8, a 1 1/16-mile outer turf allowance, with Manny Franco up for Christophe Clement.

With only two horses uncovered in the Pick 6 to close out the sequence in Race 9, the Kelly Breen-conditioned Courvoisier [No. 10, $30] staved off Perfect Fight to secure the carryover in the nine-furlong maiden tilt for 2-year-olds.

Friday's Pick 6 kicks off in Race 5 at 1:42 p.m. Eastern. First post on the 10-race card is 11:50 a.m.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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