Javier Castellano to serve 3-day suspension for 'careless riding' at start of 2027 Saratoga meet

Javier Castellano, a jockey inducted into the Hall of Fame, will serve a three-day suspension at the beginning of the 2027 Saratoga Race Course meet for his actions during a race this past weekend. The suspension was announced by the state Gaming Commission on Friday. Castellano was disciplined for careless riding aboard And One More Time during the Grade 2 Ballston Spa Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga.

And One More Time emerged victorious, winning the race by a neck in a tight three-horse finish alongside Deep Satin. According to Equibase, And One More Time initially veered outward under left-handed urging while receiving a right-handed crop, maneuvering past Sunlit Uplands and Segesta before receiving corrections from both hands.

Ultimately, the horse maintained a straight course and clinched the race by a neck, holding its position as it approached the finish line. A stewards inquiry and a claim of foul by Sunlit Uplands rider John Velazquez alleging interference were considered, but the outcome was upheld following review. Castellano had previously missed the first month of the Saratoga meet due to a back injury sustained in a four-horse fall.

The Gaming Commission's rules mandate that suspensions must be served during the same meet in which the infraction occurred, although they are not confined to the same calendar year. On Wednesday, Castellano achieved a career milestone by securing his 6,000th career win aboard Starship Lizzy, which also required a stewards inquiry before his victory was officially recognized.

Castellano is set to ride The Puma, trained by Gustavo Delgado, in the upcoming Travers Stakes. As the most successful rider in Travers history, Castellano holds a record of seven wins in the prestigious race at Saratoga.