WHAT A SCANDAL! Jockey Albin Jimenez has been unexpectedly banned from racing for a year after “PICK” players claimed his “suspicious” horse “helped his girlfriend win” a race, leaving thousands of players angry about the move
In a shocking turn of events at Belterra Park, Ohio, jockey Albin Jimenez, a leading rider with an illustrious career, has been slapped with a one-year suspension by the track’s board of stewards following a controversial race on August 21, 2025. The decision, which has sent ripples through the horse racing community, stems from what many “PICK” players—bettors who wager on multiple race outcomes—have labeled a “suspicious” ride that allegedly allowed Jimenez’s girlfriend, Summer Pauly, to claim victory. The ruling has ignited outrage among thousands of bettors, who feel cheated by the outcome, while others question whether the punishment fits the alleged offense.
The incident occurred during race two at Belterra Park, a $5,000 claiming race for non-winners of two races. Jimenez was aboard Afleet Vintage, a 3-5 odds-on favorite trained by Tommy Drury Jr., coming off a dominant 15-length victory in a maiden claiming race on July 23. Expectations were high for Afleet Vintage, given Jimenez’s stellar record at Belterra, where he leads with 81 wins this season, nearly double his closest competitor. However, the race unfolded in a manner that left spectators and bettors stunned. Afleet Vintage broke well from the rail but gradually fell to the back of the five-horse field. By the home turn, the colt was in last place, and despite a late push, he finished second, three lengths behind the winner, Permit to Carry, ridden by Summer Pauly, the mother of Jimenez’s child.
The outcome immediately raised eyebrows, particularly among “PICK” players who had heavily backed Afleet Vintage in their multi-race wagers. Social media erupted with accusations that Jimenez had deliberately underperformed to allow Pauly to win. One punter on X vented, “This is stinking especially when the winner was his girlfriend,” capturing the sentiment of betrayal felt by many. Trainer Tommy Drury, visibly upset with Jimenez’s ride, requested a stewards’ review, stating, “I watched the race and wasn’t happy and asked that they take a look.” The stewards concluded that Jimenez failed to exert his best effort to win, a serious breach of racing integrity, leading to the one-year ban, effective August 29, 2025. The suspension could be reduced to six months if Jimenez chooses not to appeal, though his agent, Bert Crawford, has denied any wrongdoing and hinted at potential legal action against critics.
Jimenez’s career, which spans over 1,700 victories and $35 million in earnings, now faces a significant setback. A native of Chiriquí, Panama, he rose to prominence with notable wins, including the 2018 Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity aboard Knicks Go and the 2016 Grade 2 Falls City Handicap with Lady Fog Horn. His dominance at Belterra, where he secured 88 wins last year, made the allegations all the more jarring. The relationship between Jimenez and Pauly, while not against racing regulations, has fueled speculation of collusion, though no evidence supports such claims. Jockeys in relationships are permitted to compete in the same races, and similar incidents have occurred historically, such as a 2017 case in Australia where a jockey was accused of aiding his partner’s victory.
The backlash from bettors highlights the high stakes of “PICK” wagers, where a single race outcome can unravel complex betting strategies. While some fans decry the ban as overly harsh, pointing to worse rides that have gone unpunished, others argue that the stewards’ decisive action upholds the sport’s integrity. The controversy has also reignited debates about transparency and fairness in horse racing, a sport no stranger to scandal. From race-fixing in the 1970s to recent penalties for excessive whip use, the industry continually grapples with maintaining public trust.
As Jimenez contemplates his next steps, the racing community remains divided. Drury has already replaced Jimenez on his runners, with Irving Moncada taking over for upcoming races. For now, the fallout from this “love race,” as some have dubbed it, leaves a cloud over Belterra Park and a cautionary tale about the fine line between personal relationships and professional duty in the high-stakes world of horse racing.
