Fresu out indefinitely with broken toe

ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockey Antonio Fresu will be sidelined for an undetermined period after suffering a broken toe on his left foot in an incident in Sunday’s seventh race at Santa Anita, according to his agent, Ron Anderson.

Fresu was scheduled to discuss treatment options with doctors on Monday, Anderson said. There is a possibility the injury could require surgery.

The incident occurred in an allowance race on the hillside turf course. Fresu was aboard 2-1 favorite Anmer Hall, who was racing on the inside toward the back of a field of 12 on the hillside portion of the course.

Anmer Hall was checked by Fresu when Winning Patriot drifted to the inside and struck the inside rail. Fresu quickly pulled up Anmer Hall, who did not finish the race.

Fresu was hospitalized shortly after the incident and missed his final three mounts, including Ambaya who won the Grade 1 American Oaks. Earlier in the afternoon, Fresu won two races, including the Grade 2 Mathis Mile on Hiding in Honduras.

Fresu, 34, has taken a prominent role in California in the last year. He led the standings at the Santa Anita spring meeting from mid-April to mid-June and finished second in the standings at the Del Mar summer and autumn meetings earlier this year.

Fresu rode briefly in the United Arab Emirates earlier this month before returning to California for the start of the current Santa Anita meeting.

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