Jockey Umberto Rispoli, who through Monday was tied for second in the jockey’s standings at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, was denied an appeal on Wednesday of a four-day suspension that will begin on Saturday. Rispoli was cited for his ride on Mo Fox Givin, who finished third in the $102,000 Blue Norther Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at a mile on turf on Dec. 29. According to a ruling published by stewards Luis Jauregui, David Nuesch, and Kim Sawyer the following day, Rispoli was cited for failing to maintain a straight course and careless riding. The stewards conducted an inquiry into the stretch run, focusing on whether Mo Fox Givin cost fourth-place finisher Zona Verde a better placing when Zona Verde sustained a bump. Mo Fox Givin finished a half-length in front of Zona Verde. The stewards ruled the incident did not affect the order of finish. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports Rispoli, through his agent Matt Nakatani, appealed the decision to the California Horse Racing Board. The appeal was denied late Wednesday afternoon, Nakatani said. Nakatani said there was insufficient time to take the case to Superior Court to gain a temporary restraining order against the racing board before Thursday morning’s scratch time for Saturday’s program, a deadline he said was imposed by the board of stewards. “We can’t get representation in enough time to go to Superior Court,” Nakatani said. “They’re taking us off on Saturday. “It’s been a nightmare.” Rispoli will be removed from four scheduled mounts on Saturday at Santa Anita, Nakatani said. The suspension covers racing days on Sunday of this weekend as well as Jan. 12-13. Rispoli expressed frustration regarding the lack of time to launch an appeal and the severity of the penalty, his second infraction in the last two months for careless riding. RIspoli was suspended three days in late November and early December during the Del Mar autumn meeting for causing interference that led to Petcoff being disqualified from third and placed seventh on Nov. 18. “I don’t think I deserve four days,” he said. Rispoli said the basis of the appeal was the severity of the suspension and the fact that four racing days covers more than a week of racing in Southern California. For most of January, Santa Anita is racing only three days a week on a Friday-through-Sunday schedule. “We’re racing three freaking days a week,” Rispoli said. Through Monday, Rispoli had six wins at the current winter-spring meeting, two behind leader Juan Hernandez. Jockey Edwin Maldonado, who was also tied for second through Monday, will serve a one-day suspension on Friday for excessive use of the whip aboard Stolen Treasure in the 12th race at Los Alamitos on Dec. 17. The ruling was published on Dec. 26 and includes a $250 fine. Maldonado struck Stolen Treasure seven times, one more than the maximum allowed. Stolen Treasure finished second by a neck in the $101,000 King Glorious Stakes for 2-year-old statebreds on Dec. 17. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.