Apprentice Suspended 30 Days For 2nd Time In Week After Another Spill-Marred Delaware Race

Eighteen-year-old jockey Axel Concepcion, who is currently Maryland's top apprentice and is on the cusp of a planned move to Kentucky that could launch him into contention for a rookie rider Eclipse Award, has again been suspended 30 days by the Delaware Park stewards for “careless riding” that caused a rival horse to crash to the track.

“This is Apprentice Jockey Axel Concepcion's second incident within a week of causing interference that resulted in a horse falling and a rider to be unseated,” stated the Oct. 6  stewards' ruling.

Delaware stewards Joelyn Rigione, Robert Colton and William Troilo cited Concepcion's actions aboard Speargun (Khozan) in the sixth race at Delaware Oct. 4 as the cause of a spill that dropped Golden Gulley (Goldencents) and jockey Jeiron Barbosa as the midpack horses raced in tight formation around the far turn. Both the fallen horse and its jockey appeared to escape serious injury, according to the stewards.

Concepcion's agent in Maryland, Tom Stift, confirmed to TDN that Concepcion plans to lodge an appeal and is in the process of hiring an attorney to contest his most recent 30-day suspension.

Concepcion had elected not to appeal the first 30-day suspension for “extremely careless” riding that stemmed from a Sept. 21 incident at Delaware that  resulted in the euthanization of a horse that had fallen, plus an emergency decision by the stewards to halt the race and declare it a “no contest” for wagering purposes.

“Both of them weren't intentional if you watch them,” Stift said. “The end result was bad in the first one, but it was just something that could have happened to anybody because the horse was lugging in so hard. It wasn't like he was trying to come down on people. I can't really say it was as bad as [the stewards] said, but we took the days without appealing.”

Under Delaware rules, not lodging that appeal cut the suspension from 30 to 21 days.

The ruling for that first Sept. 21 incident stated that Concepcion failed “to control and guide his mount, Backwoods Boogie (Red Rocks [IRE]), leaving the starting gate, impeding several horses, and causing the horse Trumpence (Eskendereya) to fall, which resulted in a fatal injury to Trumpence.

The Sept. 21 report for race seven submitted by the Delaware stewards stated that Trumpence, ridden by Kevin Gomez, “clipped heels past the finish the first time” and that “horse and rider were down and not moving.”

The warning lights and siren were activated, and “The gate crew was out on the track also, diverting the field to the outside. Horse was euthanized on the track when he couldn't get up, Jockey Kevin Gomez after some time was able to stand and be escorted to the ambulance,” the report stated. (Gomez resumed riding the next afternoon at Delaware, winning with his first mount.)

Concepcion's suspension for the Sept. 21 incident didn't go into effect until Oct. 7.

In the interim, he was involved in another spill-marred race Oct. 4 in which the stewards alleged he was again at fault.

“The second one, it's mitigating circumstances,” Stift said. “It could have been caused by somebody on the inside, so that's why we're appealing that one.”

The Delaware stewards described the sixth race Oct. 4 like this in their daily report:

“Golden Gulley (Barbosa) clipped heels around the 3/8 pole and fell. Stewards reviewed the incident and determined that #5 Speargun (Concepcion) ran into a tight spot as #8 It's Sizzling Time (Gomez) was running by appearing to come in slightly as #7 was pushed out slightly causing him to clip heels. #7 Golden Gulley was captured by the Outrider, no report on his condition but appeared not injured. Jockey Barbosa was off the rest of his mounts complaining of soreness.” (Barbosa resumed riding Oct. 6 at Laurel and won three races.)

The ruling suspending Concepcion for a second time stated that, “After reviewing the race, the Stewards found Mr. Concepcion to use poor judgment in riding his horse (Speargun) into a very tight spot in the middle of the far turn causing his horse to push a rival over heels resulting in the rival to fall and unseating the rider.”

Beyond the spill, the sixth race at Delaware Oct. 4 was also fraught with technical difficulties.

According to the Equibase chart, “There was no head on replay so notes are from pan view.”

The stewards' report also stated that, “There was a Tote delay, Stewards board locked up and could not remove the inquiry sign, placing Judge's computer board also locked up.”

Concepcion turned pro Jan. 1 in his native Puerto Rico. He won 21 races there before earning his first mainland U.S. victory Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds. He shifted his tack to Laurel a week later, and has since been among the leaders at the Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course meets while also picking up victories at other mid-Atlantic region tracks.

Asked how Concepcion was taking the suspension, Stift said, “He's upset, because he was going to go to Kentucky. So now that's on delay. He's still going, but not right away. He has an opportunity to ride for [trainer] Brad Cox, and Brad's son [Bryson] is going to be his agent. I'm actually in Puerto Rico with his family right now. We're out on a boat. Even though he's leaving me, we're still all really good friends and I hope the best for him.”

Bryson Cox told TDN that Concepcion's starting date for riding in Kentucky after serving his 21-day reduced first suspension was supposed to dovetail with the Oct. 29 opening day of the Churchill Downs meet. Cox said he now must wait and see how the appeal turns out before he can start booking Concepcion on mounts.

“We'll come up with a game plan. I would definitely like to get him into a rotation with some Kentucky-based trainers in November, and the plan is to go on to Turfway from there,” Cox said.

Cox, who has been a jockey agent for one year, also represents Chris Landeros.

Cox said he and Concepcion became acquainted when the rider followed him on Twitter earlier this year. Cox had been perusing the Puerto Rican races and noticed Concepcion was winning races in bunches. A few weeks later, he saw Concepcion win with a 10-pound allowance in New Orleans, and he wished him well on his planned move to Maryland in the spring. They stayed in touch over the summer.

“As time went on, I kept watching him, and obviously his success and stats speak for themselves,” Cox said. “He seems to be a pretty talented rider for an apprentice. I asked him what his plans were this winter, what he wanted to do, and he told me he wanted to branch out from Maryland and Delaware, the mid-Atlantic. And I said, 'I think Turfway would be a great spot for you. You could get in with some Kentucky-based people and see how it goes and roll from there,' And he was all for it.”

Cox continued, touching on specific trainers who might offer opportunities: “I've had my Dad and Joe Sharp watch him some. Chris Hartman. I know Axel is 1-for-1 with Mike Maker; he won a Maryland-bred stakes with Field Pass (Lemon Drop Kid) at Laurel” in the $75,000 Find S. on Aug. 18.

“Here it's one of those circuits where you're going to get on as many horses you work in the morning it seems like,” Cox said. “So it's dependent on how hard he wants to work in the mornings, and I know he's got a great work ethic to build business over time.”

 

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Rispoli Escapes Serious Injury in Del Mar Spill

Jockey Umberto Rispoli was back home and reportedly suffered no serious injuries in a spill during the first race at Del Mar Thursday afternoon.

Rispoli was riding Single Track Mind in heavy traffic when he was bumped by a rival and was unseated, then was kicked by a trailing horse. Another horse was able to take evasive action as Rispoli rolled under the rail near the eighth pole. He was removed by stretcher by paramedics and carried to a waiting ambulance and was later released from the hospital.

“I'm doing fine, nothing broken,” Rispoli said in a brief video on Twitter. “The scan came out clean and the X-ray came out clean so I'll try to be back as fast as I can.”

Rispoli was at the track Friday morning, but took off his four scheduled mounts. He will make a decision Saturday morning on his availability for the Pacific Classic program.

Single Track Mind was not hurt in the incident, as he was caught by outriders and led back to the Mark Glatt barn.

Rispoli celebrated his 35th birthday Thursday.

 

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Ortiz Returns After Friday’s Spill…and Wins Three

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.  – Jockey Jose Ortiz's return to competition at Saratoga Race Course Wednesday was very rewarding with three victories…and taxing.

Ortiz was unseated and fell hard to the ground when his horse clipped heels in the first race of Friday's card. He was sent to Albany Medical Center where he was found to have bruised ribs. Ortiz took off his mounts Saturday and Sunday and was ready to ride again Wednesday, the start of the third week of the meet.

In his comeback, Ortiz won with three of his five mounts. All of the wins were for leading trainer Linda Rice: Ichiban (Street Sense) in the sixth, Amanda's Folly (Mendelssohn) in the eighth and Indian Mischief (Into Mischief) in the 10th. Indian Mischief came out in the stretch and appeared to interfere with runner-up He's a Lucky Guy (Street Boss), but the stewards did not change the order of finish.

Ortiz has 11 victories at Saratoga this summer and has ridden eight of Rice's 13 winners. They were the leading jockey and trainer at the spring meet at Belmont Park.

Ortiz and Ichiban Wednesday | Sarah Andrew

After willing Ichiban to win the sixth race by a head with a hard ride through the stretch, Ortiz took part in the post-race winner's circle photographs, did a television interview and–clearly needing a breather–sat down.

“I feel better,” he said. “This filly made me a little bit tired. I had to ride her a lot, but I'm just glad to be back.”

Ortiz said he got on horses Sunday and Wednesday mornings and was no longer dealing with pain from the injuries.

“I'm pretty good about the ribs,” he said. “Just a little bit winded now. She was very lazy today.”

Ortiz was aboard for Ichiban's maiden-breaking seven-furlong victory on July 15, when she was up on the pace. In the mile and an eighth, two-turn race Wednesday, she was four lengths behind the leader at the top of the stretch and looked beaten. Ortiz pushed her and she responded.

“I was a little bit worried because the other horse opened up on me,” he said, “but I'm just glad we got there first.”

Ortiz came off Same Old Fears (Uncle Mo) near the finish of the program opener Friday. He stayed on the ground for several minutes, was helped to his feet and was able to walk off the course. At that point, it appeared that he might have some serious injuries.

“I was feeling a lot of pain when I left here, so I thought I cracked a rib or something,” he said. “I'm just happy to be back.”

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Thistledown Racing Canceled After Jockey Cedillo Injured in First Race

Jockey Mauro Cedillo was seriously injured the first race at Thistledown Racetrack on Monday, and has been taken to the Metro Health Medical Center in Cleveland, where a media relations specialist confirmed he was being treated in the emergency room, but was unable to provide any further information.

The jockeys at Thistledown Racetrack voted to cancel the remainder of the racing card, according to a member of the Thistledown racing office.

Cedillo was aboard Spectacular Road, the 2-1 second choice and was on the lead a quarter-mile into the race when his horse took a bad step and unseated him at the three-eighths pole.  He was thrown forward, and appeared to be struck by one or more horses who were behind him. The track condition was listed as muddy.

“It was the jockeys' decision to cancel racing,” said the official. “We have no update on the jockey right now. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance.”

The Equibase chart of the race reads, “Spectacular Road made the lead soon after the start, set the pace in the two path, stumbled entering the turn and unseated his rider.”

A spokesperson at the Cleveland Clinic-South Pointe Hospital said Cedillo was initially brought in, but was sent on to the Metro Health Medical Center in Cleveland.

Cedillo started his career in 2021, riding 30 races without a win. In 2022 he had 70 winners from 509 starts, and has won 31 races so far this year, riding primarily at Thistledown. He is a native of Guatemela and is a cousin of jockey Abel Cedillo, who rides at Santa Anita.

Herbie Rivera Jr., the representative for the Jockeys' Guild in Ohio, said that Cedillo's agent, Luis Quinones, was at Metro Health Center with him.

Jockey agent Derek Lawson, who tried to persuade Cedillo to come to California to ride last year, described him as “a very nice young man. I tried to get him to come to California with the bug, and that never materialized because the people in Ohio wanted him to stay there. I got to speak to him quite a bit. He's a real good guy.”

Spectacular Road appeared to be uninjured.

This story will be updated.

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