Espinoza set to begin rehab for spinal injury

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Victor Espinoza, who suffered a fractured vertebra in a training accident at Del Mar on July 22, was scheduled to be transferred on Friday from a hospital in La Jolla to a local rehabilitation center to continue his recovery, according to his agent, Brian Beach.

Espinoza, 46, is expected to remain in rehab care for a few days to undergo physical therapy.

“They want to tune him up a bit,” Beach said. “I would imagine he would be there through the weekend.”

Beach said the physical therapy would focus on Espinoza’s upper body.

It is not clear how long Espinoza will be sidelined because of the injury suffered when the graded stakes winner Bobby Abu Dhabi was fatally stricken with a possible cardiac event during a workout.

Espinoza is best known for winning the Kentucky Derby three times, most recently aboard Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in 2015. He won the race in 2014 with the popular two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome.