Report: Rispoli loses his appeal, must sit out 4 race days

Umberto Rispoli will sit out this weekend and two days next week after his suspension appeal was turned down by the California Horse Racing Board, Daily Racing Form reported Friday.

Rispoli was cited for his failure to keep then-2-year-old filly Mo Fox Givin going in a straight line last Friday in the stretch run of the Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita. They finished third but were not demoted after stewards decided fourth-place Zona Verde, who was victimized by the interference, would not have finished any better.

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Since it was his second careless-riding violation in two months, Rispoli got a four-day suspension. He also sat out three days during the fall meet at Del Mar.

Rispoli and his agent Matt Nakatani appealed to the CHRB and were denied Wednesday afternoon. Nakatani told DRF’s Steve Andersen he wanted to push the case to Los Angeles County Superior Court, but time ran out before the Thursday deadline to scratch from Saturday’s races.

The suspension will keep Rispoli out of races Saturday, Sunday, next Friday and next Saturday.