Castellano to Return to Action Feb. 17 at Gulfstream
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Photo: Chad B. Harmon
Javier Castellano
Out of action since having leg surgery in mid-November, Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano is set to launch his comeback Feb. 17 at Gulfstream Park.
Castellano, 43, is named aboard Jacks or Better Farm's homebred Sexy Dream, a half sister to multiple graded 1 winner and millionaire Jackson Bend, in Race 9, a starter/optional claimer for 3-year-old fillies going one mile on the grass.
Trained by Ralph Nicks, Sexy Dream will break from Post 10 in a field of 11. Castellano is represented by agent John Panagot.
"I'm really excited and looking forward to it," Castellano said. "It's the first time that I've been off for so long, three months, but I'm ready to go. I feel 100% and I'm ready to get back to work."
A winner of 5,328 races and more than $354 million in purse earnings in his career, Castellano won a record five consecutive Championship Meet riding titles at Gulfstream from the 2011-12 season through the 2015-16 season. During that time, he was also given the Eclipse Award for champion jockey four consecutive years in a row, from 2013-16.
Castellano's last mount was Nov. 15 at Aqueduct Racetrack before undergoing arthroscopic surgery to clean up some debris in his right leg, near the hip, Nov. 16. The rider went through physical therapy and returned to Florida earlier this month to start getting on horses.