Tampa Stewards Yet To Rule On Possible Ortiz Suspension In Aftermath Of Pasco Stakes DQ

[Wandering Eyes]

After losing on five heavy favorites and getting disqualified from a win on a sixth, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. would probably like to put his Saturday trip to Tampa Bay Downs behind him as soon as possible.

But North America's leading rider in victories in each of the last eight years is going to have to wait until at least Wednesday to find out if the Tampa stewards are going to suspend or otherwise penalize him for his actions aboard 1-2 favorite Owen Almighty (Speightstown) in the Jan. 11 Pasco Stakes that forced the 7-2 third choice, Rookie Card (Adios Charlie) to check hard under jockey Junior Alvarado while near the inner rail at the three-eighths pole.

“We're in the process of looking at it and speaking with the people right now,” association steward Joelyn Rigione told TDN via phone while between races Sunday afternoon. “So we won't have a final answer until probably Wednesday morning because we're dark [Monday] and Tuesday.”

The head-on replay showed Ortiz vying for the lead from the three path in the seven-furlong stakes. Approaching the far turn Owen Almighty appeared to have his head cocked to the outside while the colt's body was bearing inward. Owen Almighty continued dropping down toward the rail, where Rookie Card and Alvarado were attempting to close the gap and establish a position.

The Equibase chart stated that Owen Almighty “bumped and forced Rookie Card to take up sharply.”

As Rookie Card dropped out of contention, the head-on replay showed Ortiz looking back over his left shoulder to assess the aftermath.

Ortiz and Owen Almighty went on to cross the finish wire first by a length (87 Beyer Speed Figure).

Rookie Card checked in fifth, beaten 23 lengths. He was elevated to fourth place when the stewards DQ'd Owen Almighty and placed him fifth for interference.

Naughty Rascal | SV Photography

“I'm just glad [Rookie Card] was able to come back fine and we're all in one piece,” Alvarado told the Tampa notes team after the incident. “We scratch that one and we move on. That's what we do.”

The colt who was second across the line, Naughty Rascal (Rogueish), got promoted to the win as the 3-1 second choice.

Naughty Rascal actually led between calls twice in the race, from about the three-furlong pole to the quarter pole, and then again briefly in upper stretch. He was awarded an 85 Beyer for the win-via-DQ.

“My horse ran his race, but I think he'll get much better going around two turns,” said Naughty Rascal's trainer, Gerald Bennett. “I didn't really drill on him for this race. He eats everything you put in front of him, and he looked a little on the heavy side in the paddock. He's way off from being at his peak, but you want them to peak at the right time.”

Bennett said the Sam F. Davis Stakes Feb. 8 is the next goal for Naughty Rascal, but that his “main objective” is the GIII Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 8

In addition to the DQ, Ortiz lost at Tampa on Saturday aboard horses bet down to odds of 3-5, 11-10, 6-5 and 7-5 (twice).

The other two Tampa stewards who will rule on Ortiz's potential suspension are state steward Reese Howard and association steward Brook Hawkins.

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