The Maryland Racing Commission suspended jockey Alberto Delgado 30 calendar days for his ride aboard My Sweet Nenana in a Feb. 1 race at Laurel Park.
Stewards handed down the suspension, which will begin Feb. 12. Delgado will not be eligible to ride again until March 13.
According to the Equibase chart, My Sweet Nenana, the 1-2 favorite in the $5,000 claimer for fillies and mares, was “a bit rank leaving the starting gate, was immediately taken in hand, stayed inside horses and raced on her own courage.” The daughter of Jazz Club, who had not won since an upset victory in the 2010 Maryland Million Ladies at odds of 58-1, finished seventh of 10, nine lengths behind winner Iris' Proverb.
“The reason that it took a week was because our investigator had to interview all the participants and we talked to the trainer and Albert,” steward John Burke said. “Albert said he was afraid of the horse and we concur. We don’t believe there was anything nefarious going on here. Nothing points to it.”
Delgado has been a regular rider in the Maryland colony since 1982, the year he earned an Eclipse Award as Outstanding Apprentice. The 47-year-old, who has 2,867 career victories, ranked ninth in the 2011 Maryland standings with 41 victories.