Ortiz Suspended Three Days In Aftermath Of Stakes DQ At Tampa

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 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 see what happened.

Ortiz and Owen Almighty went on to cross the finish wire first by a length. Rookie Card finished fifth, beaten 23 lengths. He was elevated to fourth when the stewards DQ'd Owen Almighty and placed him fifth.

Rookie Card was reported to be “fine” by Alvarado after the incident.

The three Tampa officials who issued the suspension are state steward Reese Howard and association stewards Joelyn Rigione and Brook Hawkins.

#5 NAUGHTY RASCAL ($8.20) was elevated to first in the $150,000 Pasco Stakes at @TampaBayDownsFL after the disqualification of Owen Almighty.

This is the third stakes victory for the three-year-old Rogueish colt. @EdwinGonzalz1 was aboard for trainer Gerald Bennett. pic.twitter.com/90gH75wQnu

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 11, 2025