Castellano plans Oct. 3 return to riding after hand injury

Jockey Javier Castellano, who suffered a fractured hand in a spill at Saratoga on Aug. 30, got clearance from his doctor on Tuesday to resume riding and is expected to begin riding races again on Oct. 3 at Aqueduct, his agent, P.J. Campo, said.

Campo said that Castellano will likely start getting on horses a few days before he rides in the afternoon. Entries for the Oct. 3 card will be taken on Friday. Among his first expected mounts back will be Donegal Momentum in the $135,000 Gio Ponti Stakes for 3-year-olds on turf on Oct. 3 at Aqueduct.

Castellano was injured when his mount Take Me To Church was bumped into by a fallen The Big Torpedo during the stretch run of the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 30.

Castellano had surgery performed on Sept. 4 by Dr. George Zanaros near Saratoga, during which Castellano had three pins put in his hand. Castellano had the pins removed on Tuesday.

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