Apprentice rider Lopez to miss 4-6 weeks

Apprentice David Lopez, fourth in the Golden Gate Fields riders’ standings with 70 wins, will be sidelined four to six weeks with fractures in his lower back.

Lopez was injured after falling when his mount in Saturday’s 10th race, Redneck Girl, ducked in sharply shortly after the start of the race.

Lopez was taken to Highland Hospital in Oakland, Calif., for precautionary X-rays that revealed fractures in vertebrae Nos. 1, 2, and 3, according to Golden Gate track physician David Seftel.

“The spinal cord is not involved, and there are no neurological abnormalities,” said Seftel. “The injury is similar to breaking a rib. The treatment is simply pain control and time. He’ll make a full recovery in four to six weeks.”