Churchill: Jockey Castanon injured, may have broken hand

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Jockey Jesus Castanon, injured when unseated at the start of Friday’s 10th race at Churchill Downs, is believed to have a broken bone in his left hand, agent Dennis Cooper said Saturday.

He is off his mounts this weekend at Churchill Downs, and Cooper said he will not accept any calls for Castanon until after the rider visits a bone specialist Monday. Due to the timing of entries, this means the earliest he could resume riding would be next Saturday. Cooper called that scenario “best case.”

Castanon was taken to a Louisville hospital Friday evening where this preliminary diagnosis of his hand was made.

The rider was injured when his mount, favored Southern Parkway, stumbled at the start of the 10th race, and Castanon fell off, landing on the Churchill Downs turf. Cooper speculated that he may have been stepped on by the horse to his inside.

As the regular rider of 2011 Preakness winner Shackleford, his injury comes at an inopportune time. Shackleford is being pointed toward the $750,000 Met Mile at Belmont Park May 28.

Shackleford’s trainer, Dale Romans, said Saturday if he needs to replace an injured Castanon, he wouldn’t make a decision on a rider change until next week.