Belmont Park: Apprentice rider Ortiz sidelined with concussion

ELMONT, N.Y. - Apprentice jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will be out indefinitely after sustaining a concussion as a result of a spill in Saturday’s tenth race at Belmont Park.

Ortiz was expected to be released from a Long Island hospital on Monday, according to his agent, Tony Micallef. An MRI done Sunday did not reveal any other injuries or internal issues, Micallef said.

Ortiz was named to ride three horses on Sunday, five on Monday, and four on Thursday. Micallef said he did not name Ortiz on anything for Friday when entries for those races were taken on Sunday.

“He’ll probably be out at least a week or two, but I’ll know more when I go to the hospital later today,’’ Micallef said late Sunday afternoon. “He hit his head pretty hard, but the prognosis is good; no bleeding no hemorrhaging.’’

Ortiz was aboard Freud’s Debut in Saturday’s nightcap. Early on in the 1 1/16-mile turf race, Freud’s Debut was bumped by another horse and was unseated. Ortiz hit the ground hard and lay motionless for several minutes before removed from the track on a stretcher.

Ortiz, 17, rode in Puerto Rico before coming to New York in April. He is 2 for 33 at the current Belmont meet.

Meanwhile, jockey Ramon Dominguez returned to the saddle on Sunday after missing Saturday’s card due to a stiff neck sustained in a spill on Friday. Dominguez went winless with six mounts on Sunday’s card.