Espinoza taken to hospital after spill; Bobby Abu Dhabi dies after work

DEL MAR – Jockey Victor Espinoza was injured and the stakes-winning sprinter Bobby Abu Dhabi perished in a spill Sunday morning at Del Mar.

Espinoza was working Bobby Abu Dhabi when the horse dropped suddenly and without warning nearing the end of a drill, apparently from a sudden cardiac event.

Espinoza was placed on a backboard and had his neck immobilized by paramedics. He was transferred to a waiting ambulance and was taken to Scripps La Jolla Hospital. Espinoza appeared able to move his extremities but was complaining of shoulder pain and was grimacing while being loaded into the ambulance.

Bobby Abu Dhabi, 4, was third in the Grade 2 True North Stakes at Belmont Park in his last start on June 8. He won the Grade 2 Kona Gold earlier this year at Santa Anita and was second in the Grade 1 Triple Bend. He was trained by Peter Miller. A son of Macho Uno, Bobby Abu Dhabi won 4 of 9 starts and $375,100. He was owned by David Bernsen and the Rockingham Ranch of Gary Hartunian.