Irad ortiz jockey suspended

Irad Ortiz Jr. has been handed a three-day stewards' suspension in the aftermath of his disqualification for interference in the Jan. 11 Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Ortiz will sit Jan.

19, 22, 23, as per his agent, Steve Rushing. Dave Grening of Daily Racing Form was first to report this news via a posting on the X social media platform.

Ortiz has led North America in victories in each of the last eight years and was voted the Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey in 2018-20 and 2022-23.

He is a finalist for the 2024 award, which will be announced on the evening that his suspension concludes next Thursday.

Ortiz rode the 1-2 favorite, Owen Almighty (Speightstown), in that Tampa stakes last Saturday.

His mount came in on the 7-2 third choice, Rookie Card (Adios Charlie), causing that rival to check hard under jockey Junior Alvarado while near the inner rail at the three-eighths pole.

The Equibase chart s