Rosario Breaks Foot in Saratoga Fall

Jockey Joel Rosario has broken a bone in his left foot and will require a doctor's clearance on Aug. 24 to ride his big contenders in New York and California over the weekend, including Orb in the Travers (gr. I) and Game On Dude in the TVG Pacific Classic (gr. I).

Rosario took off the remainder of his mounts on the Aug. 23 card at Saratoga Race Course and was hospitalized for x-rays of his left foot after falling from his mount past the wire in the seventh race.

The rider's mount, Casual Elegance, dropped Rosario after the wire but did not appear to be injured in the incident. Motionless on the turf course for several moments, Rosario was finally able to get up and was transported off the track via golf cart after being checked by paramedics.

Tim Wilkin of the Albany Times-Union reported x-rays taken at Saratoga Hospital revealed the break. Rosario will undergo a doctor's examination on the morning of Aug. 24 to determine when he can get back in the saddle.

According to the Times Union, Orb's co-owner Dinny Phipps mentioned Rosie Napravnik or Jose Lezcano as possible replacements for the Travers, although Lezcano also suffered a leg injury before the running of the $500,000 Ballerina Stakes (gr. I) on Aug. 23. He took over on Rosario's mount, Judy the Beauty. but she flipped in the gate and was a late scratch. 

“We will talk about it,” Phipps told the Times Union when asked whether Rosario would be replaced with a new rider. “If he can ride, he can ride. If he can’t ride, then we will have to get someone else. Certainly, we would rather have Joel on (Orb). You feel bad about it, and you feel bad for him. Hopefully, everything will be alright.” 

The jockey who won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with Orb has several key assignments in stakes races on both coasts over the weekend. In addition to his Aug. 24 Travers mount and the Aug. 25 obligation in the Pacific Classic, he is also supposed to ride Tigah in the Del Mar Mile Handicap (gr. IT) at Del Mar Aug. 25, and has the call on My Happy Face in the Test Stakes (gr. I), Forty Tales in the Foxwoods King's Bishop (gr. I), and Somali Lemonade in the Ketel One Ballston Spa (gr. IIT) at Saratoga on Travers Day. In fact, on Travers Day he was named aboard horses in all 14 races on the card.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who conditions Game On Dude, told the U-T San Diego that he would wait for word from New York on whether or not Rosario would make the trip to Del Mar. He was slated to replace Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith, who elected to ride champion Royal Delta in the Aug. 25 Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga instead.

"I have until Sunday to name a rider," Baffert told the San Diego via text.

Rosario, a 28-year-old native of the Dominican Republic, is leading the nation in wins and total purses with 236 victories and $16,668,665 in overall earnings through Aug. 22. He is second in the Saratoga rider standings with 41 wins.