Rosario, Hernandez Recovering From Injuries

Joel Rosario, one of two jockeys hospitalized following a Feb. 20 spill at Gulfstream Park, is nearing a return that could have him riding the week of the $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (gr. I) April 2.



Rosario's agent, Ron Anderson, said March 10 that the 31-year-old rider is scheduled to begin rehabilitation next week for a broken wrist suffered during the $75,000 Melody of Colors Stakes.



ANGST: Hernandez, Rosario to Hospital After Spill



"Joel will start rehab (March 20) and is due to ride about 10 days after that," Anderson said. "So, in theory, we could ride (Florida) Derby week, seeing how things go. He was lucky. He had a clean break."



Anderson likened the injury to one suffered by his former client, retired Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, who broke his wrist falling off a ladder while installing storm shutters to protect his Davie, Fla. home from Hurricane Frances in September 2004. Bailey missed six weeks but returned in time to ride in the Breeders' Cup at Lone Star Park.



"The same exact doctor (who) performed his surgery also operated on Joel," he said. "It was a clean break and they didn't see any complications. All they did was go in and plate it, which speeds up the situation. It was an horrendous accident."



Rosario, Rafael Hernandez, and Edgard Zayas were all unseated from their mounts in the Melody of Colors, a five-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-old fillies. Brandy's Girl, with Hernandez up, fell shortly after entering the stretch and Rosario, aboard Kandoo, tumbled over the fallen horse and rider.



Hernandez was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Fla. and was later joined by Rosario, who initially walked off the track with Zayas despite having his helmet split in two pieces. Zayas missed one day with a sore ankle.



Hernandez was released from the hospital March 6 and is scheduled to start physical therapy shortly, his agent Cliff Collier reported Thursday.



The veteran jockey sustained internal injuries that required the removal of a kidney. Hernandez, 29, also sustained multiple fractures in his collarbone and broke three ribs, Collier said.



"He got out of the hospital Sunday and he went to get a check-up on his kidney March 9, and that went good," Collier said. "He has to do therapy on his shoulder. He had 10 screws put into his collarbone."



Collier said Hernandez's spirits have been improving, noting that his client could start getting on horses as soon as June.