Apprentice Maragh Back Winning After Spinal Injury

Romero Maragh celebrated a "special" moment in the Gulfstream Park winner's circle Feb. 12 after riding his first winner since fracturing two vertebrae in a Jan. 31, 2019 spill by piloting Allaboutthedrama ($14.40) to a second-race victory. The 19-year-old apprentice jockey, who underwent surgery to fuse four vertebrae, returned to riding Jan. 19 at Gulfstream.

"It's very special—it's been over a year—after all the pain and everything I've been through," said Maragh, crediting his family and girlfriend with supporting him through his recovery and during his successful comeback.

Prior to being sidelined, Maragh had won 85 races, including two aboard eventual Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) winner Maximum Security. He guided the future champion in his 9 3/4-length debut victory in a $16,000 maiden claiming race Dec. 20, 2018, before scoring a 6 1/2-length optional claiming starter allowance win on the colt Jan. 24, 2019, seven days before being sidelined.

Stewards determined jockey Paco Lopez was at fault in contributing to the spill and suspended him 30 days.

Paco Lopez Receives 30-Day Suspension at Gulfstream

Maragh, a Hollywood, Fla., native and cousin to Breeders Cup-winning jockey Rajiv Maragh, had to work harder to win with Allaboutthedrama than he did with Maximum Security, who won comfortably the two times he was aboard. After pressing the pace on the inside while lapped on Two Cents Worth along the backstretch and into the homestretch, Allaboutthedrama responded to Maragh's vigorous handling to pull away to a 2 1/4-length victory.

"She broke sharp, but I was committed because I was the inside horse. I was putting a little pressure on her the whole way, but I had to keep her there or lose position. I don't think would have won (otherwise)," he said. 

It didn't take Maragh long to find the winner's circle again. He came back in the eighth race to guide Lady Archa ($6.40) with an off-the-pace score.