Ortiz Jr., Rosario Receive Three-Day Suspensions

The final days of the Saratoga Race Course meet will be a little less hectic for jockeys Irad Ortiz Jr. and Joel Rosario as three-racing-day careless riding suspensions for both riders were announced Aug. 24. Rosario received an Aug. 28-Sept. 1 ban for his ride on Sassy Melissa, who was disqualified from third to fourth in the third race at the Spa Aug. 18. Ortiz, the leading rider at the meet, was handed an Aug. 31-Sept. 2 suspension after Nabokov was disqualified from fifth and placed sixth for bumping a rival in the eighth race Aug. 18. Both jockeys waived their right to an appeal. Ortiz ended Wednesday's card with an eight-win lead over Luis Saez (42-34) in the race for leading rider at the meet.