Photo:
Alex Evers / Eclipse Sportswire
Del Mar stewards suspended jockey Antonio Fresu for three racing days Saturday for his ride aboard Big Blast in the eighth and final race on Friday’s card.
Stewards found that Fresu altered course without sufficient clearance in the stretch and caused interference, a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule 1699, which governs careless riding. He will serve the suspension Sept. 12, 13 and 18.
Big Blast won the one-mile turf maiden special weight for California-bred or California-sired 2-year-old fillies by a neck over Miss Mo Brown, who had put a head in front at the eighth pole. The Tim Yakteen trainee returned $18.80 and covered the distance in 1:37.44 over firm ground.
Stewards reviewed contact between Big Blast and Nyce Shot in upper stretch, then let the order of finish stand. Big Blast came out and bumped the Michael McCarthy-trained filly twice. Just Work It Out, the favorite, led into the final furlong and held third, 1 3/4 lengths behind the winner. Nyce Shot, making her debut, finished a neck farther back in fourth.
Under California Horse Racing Board rule 1766, the suspension does not prohibit Fresu from riding in designated races.
Fresu, 34, moved to California in 2023 after riding in Italy and elsewhere overseas. He won the Santa Anita Derby (G1) with Stronghold in 2024, took riding titles at Santa Anita’s Hollywood meet in 2025 and 2026 and finished second in the Del Mar summer standings in each of the last three years. He stands third at the current meet.
Fresu plans to move his tack to Belmont Park after the Del Mar summer meet ends Sept. 7.