Arkansas Reduces Cohen Suspension from 60 to Five Days

Jockey David Cohen, suspended in April for 60 days by Oaklawn Park stewards for allegedly striking another rider with his whip during a race, will begin serving a five-day suspension next week after the penalty was reduced by the Arkansas Racing Commission via an appeal.

In the original suspension, Oaklawn stewards ruled he deliberately whipped fellow jockey Edgar Morales several times during the eighth race April 6, 2019. The Arkansas Racing Commission issued its reduced penalty Feb. 29, according to records from the Association of Racing Commissioners International.

The amended suspension was first reported by Daily Racing Form.

Morales and Cohen were alongside each other during the stretch of the race in question, with Cohen's mount, Bolita Boyz, running fourth and Morales finishing fifth on No Funny Biz. 

The initial ruling from stewards noted Morales was convinced Cohen intentionally struck him, saying the two riders had a post-race conversation in the jockeys' room in which Cohen is alleged to have been unhappy at being carried wide. Cohen contended if contact occurred down the stretch it was accidental, according to last year's ruling.

A head-on replay shows the two jockeys and their mounts racing near one another, with Cohen's whip either making partial contact or coming close to Morales.

Bill Castle, Cohen's agent, said the rider would serve the first two days of the suspension March 12-13, and after riding in stakes races exempted from the suspension March 14, would serve his remaining days March 15 and March 19-20.

There are three stakes at Oaklawn March 14: the $350,000 Essex Handicap, the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2), and the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2). 

Cohen was the leading rider at Oaklawn Park in 2019. Through racing March 5, he was second in the standings there behind Ricardo Santana Jr.