Baze eying early August return at Del Mar
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Jockey Tyler Baze is aiming for a return to riding on the first weekend of August at Del Mar after sustaining a hand injury in a post parade at Los Alamitos on June 22.
Baze said on Thursday that he is the midst of a six-week mandatory break because of California workman’s compensation rules. Baze plans to return in time to ride Sugar Fish in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes against older fillies and mares at Del Mar on Aug. 3.
“I can’t wait,” he said. “I hope she’s as good as I think she is.”
Trained by Jeff Mullins, Sugar Fish won her third consecutive race in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita on June 8, closing from off the pace to prevail by 9 3/4 lengths.
Baze sustained a broken bone in his hand when his mount behaved erratically before a maiden race. The injury did not require surgery. Baze had hoped to return to riding this weekend. Del Mar begins its summer meeting on Saturday.
Instead, Baze has focused on maintaining fitness through gym works and riding an equicizer, which replicates race riding.
“I just go to the gym every day,” he said.
Baze, 41, has won 2,923 races in a career that began in 1999. Earlier this year, he ranked in the top 10 at two meetings at Santa Anita.
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