Desormeaux Resumes Riding Feb. 13 After Rib Injury

Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux resumes riding Feb. 13 after recovering from a fractured rib in a one-horse spill at Santa Anita Park last month.

The 50-year-old was hurt after he was unseated in the fifth race at Santa Anita Jan. 23 when his mount, Scat's Choice, was fatally broke down midway through a six-furlong dirt race for $25,000 claimers. Originally, doctors suspected the rider had injured his back.

A three-time Kentucky Derby (G1) winner with more than 6,000 victories, Desormeaux has three mounts Saturday—Zoffa for trainer Keith Desormeaux, his brother, in the third race, Mystery Messenger for trainer Vladimir Cerin in the fifth, and Satchel de Ritches for longtime friend and trainer Bob Hess Jr. in the sixth.

"He's healthy and been working horses for the last week and a half," said Desormeaux's agent, J.R. Pegram. "All's good."

Training for return pic.twitter.com/8K40E1F8Ol

— Kent DesOrmeaux (@DesormeauxKent) January 31, 2021

Desormeaux missed riding for much of the second half of 2020 due to undergoing three months of substance-abuse rehabilitation. His rehabilitation began after he was barred from riding at Del Mar during the summer and later suspended 15 days by stewards after an altercation with TVG cameraman Guy Stuttley in which the jockey is alleged to have used racial slurs.

Desormeaux is 1-4-6 from 30 rides at the current Santa Anita meet.