Derby News

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 21, 2006) - The agent for John Velazquez said the Eclipse Award-winning jockey would be out of action indefinitely because of an injury suffered in a spill following the Forerunner Stakes at Keeneland Race Course on Thursday.

Angel Cordero, Jr., the retired Hall of Fame jockey and two-time Kentucky Derby (GI) winner who represents the injured rider, said the injury could force Velazquez to miss scheduled rides in the $2 million-guaranteed Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) on Saturday, May 6 and the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (GI) on Friday, May 5.

Cordero said he could not say for sure that Velazquez would on the sidelines for the Derby and Oaks until he talked with the injured rider and his doctors.

Velazquez, the principal jockey for trainer Todd Pletcher, was expected to ride WinStar Farm's Bluegrass Cat in the "Run for the Roses." Pletcher also trains Keyed Entry, who is listed as "probable" for the Derby, and Sunriver who will run in the Derby for Pletcher if he has sufficient earnings in graded stakes races to qualify.

Velazquez was released from the University of Kentucky's Chandler Medical Center in Lexington, Ky. on Friday after being treated overnight. Cordero said Velazquez suffered a fractured scapula, or shoulder blade. He was injured when the Pletcher-trained Up an Octave suffered a fatal leg injury while galloping out following a victory in the Forerunner, a race run at 1 1/8-miles on the turf at the Lexington track.

"He's in a lot of pain," said Cordero. "He's more comfortable than he was last night. He's a little sore in the chest." Cordero said that surgery had not been ruled out, but the retired riding star said he hoped that the early dismissal of Velazquez from the hospital was a sign that surgery would not be necessary.

"So far, so good," said Cordero. "We know he's going to be all right. But how long he's going to be out, we don't know."

Pletcher was at his Churchill Downs barn on Friday and expressed relief that the news on Velazquez's injuries was positive. He said he had not yet considered who might replace the injured rider on his Derby and Oaks horses if Velazquez cannot ride.

"We'll start looking at those options this afternoon," said Pletcher.

Velazquez ranked third in earnings by U.S. jockeys in 2006 as his mounts had collected $4,028,779 through Thursday, April 20, and trailed only Garrett Gomez and Victor Espinoza. His 104 victories ranked Velazquez sixth among U.S. jockeys in total wins on the year.

The 34-year-old Velazquez has won Eclipse Awards that honored him as the nation's top jockey in 2004 and 2005. He is currently tied for first in the Keeneland jockey standings with Julien Leparoux, who also leads U.S. jockeys in 2006 victories.

DERBY CONTENDERS WORK - A pair of contenders for Kentucky Derby 132 that have yet to arrive at Churchill Downs turned in important workouts on Friday in Maryland and New York.

Joseph Balsamo and Ted Theos' Sweetnorthernsaint, winner of the Illinois Derby (GII), breezed five furlongs in 1:00 over a "fast" track at Maryland's Laurel Race Course. The work by the Michael Trombetta-trained son of Sweetsouthernsaint was the fastest of 25 at the distance.

Jockey Mario Pino was aboard for the move, which was moved up a day because of Trombetta's concerns about rainy weather.

"He got a lot out of the work," Pino said. "He made an awesome move finishing up. I think we got everything out of him that Mike wanted."

Trombetta has informed Churchill Downs officials that he plans to ship the 3-year-old gelding to the Louisville track by van on Tuesday, April 25. He will work over the Churchill Downs strip on Saturday, April 29.

Shadwell Stable's Jazil, runner-up in the Wood Memorial (GI), worked four- furlongs on Friday at New York's Belmont Park. The son of Seeking the Gold, who is trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, covered the distance in :50.62.

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