By T. D. Thornton
Brothers Irad Ortiz Jr., and Jose Ortiz will both serve three-day “careless riding” suspensions Aug. 9-11 that were imposed by the Saratoga Race Course stewards for separate infractions that involved winning rides last week. Both jockeys elected not to appeal their penalties.
Irad Ortiz crossed the wire first but got disqualified aboard 1.45-1 favorite Eyes On Target (Exaggerator) in the seventh race July 27, a $25,000 claiming turf route.
The Equibase chart stated that in upper stretch, his mount “was under a light drive in behind the top pair just off the inside, had the rider look to the outside, tipped out into a space three to four paths off the rail forcing Tartini (Giant's Causeway) to check between to pinching foes and Tommy Bee (Medaglia d'Oro) who was attempting to angle in to the seam from the outside to pause and steady in behind and to the outside of Tartini…”
Eyes On Target then rallied and was just up in the final few jumps to prevail.
Tartini's jockey, Dylan Davis, claimed foul after finishing eighth. The stewards demoted Eyes on Target and placed Ortiz's mount behind that fouled rival. Tommy Bee crossed the wire fifth.
Jose Ortiz won the tenth race July 26, a $40,000 maiden-claiming turf route, aboard the 5-1 Indian Mischief (Into Mischief).
The Equibase chart stated that after making the lead and straightening away in the stretch, Indian Mischief “came under a left handed crop and drifted out two paths directly in front and impeding He's a Lucky Guy [Street Boss] forcing that foe to check just off his heels sharp enough to displace large chunks of the sod in a halt while brushing that foe with his hindquarters…” before inching away to victory.
After a stewards' inquiry, the results stood.
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