Following hand surgery, Castellano targets early October return

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Javier Castellano, who suffered a fractured hand in a spill at Saratoga on Aug. 30, hopes to return by the first weekend in October, the Hall of Fame rider said Wednesday.

Castellano was injured when his mount Take Me To Church was bumped into by a fallen The Big Torpedo during the stretch run of the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 30. Castellano was unseated and after initial X-rays indicated he had no fractures, further imaging revealed he had a tiny fracture in his right hind.

Castellano said Wednesday he had surgery performed on Sept. 4 by Dr. George Zanaros in Albany, during which Castellano had three pins put in his hand. Castellano met with Zanaros on Wednesday and said Zanaros liked the way the hand is healing. Castellano said he was scheduled to start therapy on Thursday on Long Island and then meet again with Zanaros on Sept. 24 for a progress report.

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Castellano said if he gets the okay from Zanaros at that time, then he would like to get on horses as soon as he can with the hopes of returning by Oct. 4, a day that kicks off a big weekend of races in New York and Kentucky that lead up to the Breeders’ Cup in early November at Del Mar.

“My goal is Oct. 4-5,” Castellano said. “I first have to see how we go through therapy and see what kind of strength I have in my hand.”

One mount Castellano will have to give up is Power Squeeze for the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 21. Castellano guided Power Squeeze to victory in the Grade 1 Alabama on Aug. 17 at Saratoga.

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