Jockey John Velazquez sustained a fractured right shoulder blade and two
cracked ribs in a spill at Keeneland on Thursday, The Blood-Horse
reports. The two-time Eclipse Award-winning rider was injured when his mount, UP
AN OCTAVE (Brahms), broke down shortly after winning
the Forerunner S.
The 34-year-old native of Puerto Rico was released from the University of
Kentucky Chandler Medical Center on Friday but could be sidelined up to five
months and will not be able to ride BLUEGRASS CAT (Storm Cat) for trainer Todd
Pletcher in the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1).
In addition to his shoulder and chest injuries, Velazquez bruised his sternum
and has a slight injury to his right lung.
Through
Thursday, Velazquez was tied with apprentice jockey Julien Leparoux atop the
Keeneland leading rider standings. Each had won 12 races.
Vinery Stables’ Up an Octave, trained by Pletcher, was euthanized after
suffering a compound fracture in his left foreleg. The three-year-old colt, out
of Afleet Change (Time for a Change), earned $184,672 from a record of 7-3-1-1.