LAUREL, MD. 02-08-12---The Maryland Racing Commission suspended jockey Alberto Delgado thirty calendar days for his ride aboard My Sweet Nenana in last Wednesday’s seventh race at Laurel Park. Stewards Phil Grove, John Burke and Adam Campola handed down the suspension, which will begin Sunday, February 12, at a hearing this morning at Laurel Park. Delgado will not be eligible to ride again until Tuesday, March 13.

According to the Equibase chart, My Sweet Nenana, the 1-2 favorite in the $5,000 claimer for fillies and mares, was “a bit rank leaving the starting gate, was immediately taken in hand, stayed inside horses and raced on her own courage.” The daughter of Jazz Club, who had not won since an upset victory in the 2010 Maryland Million Ladies at odds of 58-1, finished seventh of 10, nine lengths behind winner Iris’ Proverb.

My Sweet Nenana was claimed by trainer Dane Kobiskie last September for a chance to defend her Maryland Million title but she was winless in five succeeding attempts in the Kobiskie barn so the conditioner dropped the 6-year-old mare into a bottom level claimer in hopes of losing her.

“The reason that it took a week was because our investigator had to interview all the participants and we talked to the trainer and Albert,” Burke said. “Albert said he was afraid of the horse and we concur. We don’t believe there was anything nefarious going on here. Nothing points to it.”

Delgado has been a regular rider in the Maryland colony since 1982, the year he earned an Eclipse Award as Outstanding Apprentice. The 47-year-old, who has 2,867 career victories (176^th on the all-time list), ranked ninth in the 2011 Maryland standings with 41 victories, while riding first call for Kobiskie. Overall he won 80 races during the year, the most since visiting the winners’ circle 122 times in 1999. He is best known forguiding Oliver’s Twist to a second place finish in the 1995 Preakness Stakes (G1) for trainer Bill Boniface.

Delgado ranks third in the current Laurel Park winter standings with 12 winners from 47 mounts, including a score in today’s opener aboard Caesar’s Gold ($5.20) for Kobiskie.

Burke and Campola indicated Delgado is not expected to appeal the decision.