Baze injured in minor accident, plans to ride Sunday

Leading jockey Russell Baze, who had three wins and a third from his first four mounts, was injured prior to Saturday’s sixth race at Golden Gate Fields when Private Joke tossed his head back and struck Baze above his left eye.

Baze had to take off his remaining mounts after receiving stitches for the laceration but said he planned to ride Sunday.

Baze’s misfortune turned into an exhilarating 10 minutes for Kyle Frey, who picked up the mount on Private Joke and guided him to a wire-to-wire victory in the maiden turf race.

Frey then proposed to his girlfriend, Taylor Brazil, in the winner’s circle and was rewarded with a “yes.”