Alvarado having shoulder surgery
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jockey Junior Alvarado was scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery on Tuesday and is expected to be out of action for eight to 12 weeks.
Alvarado said he needs surgery to repair his left shoulder, which has sporadically popped out of its socket. Alvarado said an incident about two weeks ago exacerbated the problem, prompting doctors to suggest he have surgery soon.
“About two weeks ago, a horse stumbled and pulled my arm and damaged some tissue and ligaments around my shoulder,” Alvarado said Monday.
Alvarado said he had similar surgery in 2007 and was told then that there was a 20 percent chance he would need surgery again at some stage. Alvarado said the winter is probably the best time to have the procedure.
“Hopefully, by the time I get back a little before April, the weather will start getting a little nicer,” Alvarado said. “If I had to pick a time, now is a perfect time.”
Alvarado had a solid 2016, winning 110 races from 808 mounts with purse earnings of $9,323,499. He won two Grade 1 stakes – the Just a Game on Celestine and the Del Mar Oaks on Harmonize. He also rode in his first Kentucky Derby, finishing fourth aboard Mohaymen, on whom he also won the Holy Bull and Fountain of Youth.
Last winter, Alvarado won 26 races over Aqueduct’s inner track, good enough for seventh in the jockey standings.