Cuts and bruises for Aqueduct jocks

JAMAICA, N.Y. - Jockeys Heberto Castillo Jr. and Roberto Villafan, who were involved in a nasty-looking spill Friday at Aqueduct, were released from the hospital with cuts and bruises.

Castillo suffered a gash on his ear that required more than a dozen stitches and took off his one mount on Saturday. Castillo, who was released from Jamaica Hospital on Saturday morning, said he probably would take off his mounts on Sunday and return to the saddle Wednesday.

"I must have gotten kicked by a horse because my nose and ear were busted up," Castillo said. "I was bleeding from my nose and ear. Fortunately, I have no breaks. It could have been a lot worse."

Villafan was released from North Shore University Hospital Friday evening after X-rays of his wrist were negative. Villafan had no mounts on Saturday's card, but planned on riding Sunday.

The accident happened in the stretch of Friday's seventh race when Castillo's mount, Madame Viceroy B B broke her left foreleg. Villafan was unseated when he was unable to avoid the fallen rider. Madame Viceroy B B was humanely destroyed.