Velazquez Undergoing Surgery to Remove Spleen
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Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, injured in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), was undergoing surgery later that afternoon to remove his spleen, according to officials at Santa Anita Park.
Velazquez, 41, was thrown from his mount Secret Compass in the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile Fillies when she fell leaving the backside. Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Westrock Stable's 2-year-old Discreet Cat filly sustained a lateral condylar fracture with dislocation, and was euthanized.
The jockey was taken to Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, where he was found to have internal bleeding. He was replaced on his remaining Breeders' Cup mounts, including Point of Entry who finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) under Joel Rosario, and Horse of the Year Wise Dan, who was scheduled to be ridden by jockey Jose Lezcano in his defense of the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT).