Jose Batista, who has flown in from Florida to ride Conquest Big E in the Grade 3, $200,000 Westchester at Belmont Park on Saturday, was disqualified from fourth and placed sixth in his first New York ride in race 2.
Grand Valour, with Batista aboard, was the 5-2 favorite in the 12-horse field of the $40,000 maiden-claiming race, which was run at seven furlongs on turf. He came outward bothering Joe's Smokin Gun in upper stretch and was disqualified following a lengthy inquiry after jockey Trevor McCarthy lodged an objection against him.
Grand Valour is trained by Linda Rice.
Batista has two other mounts on the card in addition to Conquest Big E, who is 3-1 on the morning line for the Westchester.