With Albarado injured, Saez will ride J Boys Echo in Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Dale Romans didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when his close friend Robby Albarado suffered an injury that would keep the jockey from riding J Boys Echo in the 143rd Kentucky Derby next Saturday.

After the injury, Romans was hounded from all sides as to who would replace Albarado. On Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs, he joked, “I’ve been in touch with [Eddie] Delahoussaye to see if he can get ready in time,” referring to the retired Hall of Fame jockey who won the Derby in 1982 and 1983.

Later Wednesday, Romans announced via his Twitter account that it will be Luis Saez, the leading jockey this winter at the prestigious championship meet at Gulfstream Park in Florida, to ride J Boys Echo, owned by the Albaugh Family Stable.

Saez “has really matured as a rider,” said Romans. “Obviously, I watched him a lot when we were down in Florida this winter. We feel good about getting him.”

Albarado, meanwhile, is coping with a setback that might be even more mentally torturous than physically painful. He underwent surgery Monday in Lexington, Ky., to repair the broken lower left leg he sustained in a Sunday spill at Keeneland, with a rod and two screws implanted to facilitate the healing process. He is expected to be sidelined for at least several weeks.

“Robby’s as tough as they come,” said Romans. “He’ll get through this like he’s gotten through some other difficult situations.”

Six years ago, Romans was among the trainers who kept Albarado aboard his mounts on Derby Day despite Albarado having to ride with a custom-fitted mask to protect a broken nose and other facial injuries suffered three days beforehand when he was dumped in the post parade prior to a Churchill race. Albarado rode seven races on that 2011 Derby card, with his lone victory coming in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff for Romans aboard Sassy Image, who prevailed at 16-1 as the longest shot in a field of seven.

Albarado had been replaced the Friday before the 2011 Derby aboard Animal Kingdom, the eventual winner under John Velazquez. The connections of Animal Kingdom were unsure as to how Albarado could perform under the circumstances.

“You can only imagine how hard that is, losing a Derby winner like that,” said Romans.

Albarado was the regular rider for Romans on Not This Time, the Albaugh family homebred who might well have been the favorite for the upcoming Derby if not for the career-ending injury the colt sustained when finishing a fast-closing second last fall as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

“We were all crushed by that,” said Romans. “Nothing comes easy in this game.”