Gulfstream: Lopez, Bravo miss stakes mounts after spill

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Jockeys Paco Lopez and Joe Bravo were forced to take off all their mounts Saturday and Sunday after being involved in a frightening spill here Friday. Both Lopez and Bravo were scheduled to ride in Saturday’s Grade 3 Sugar Swirl, with Lopez on Catch a Thief and Bravo aboard Roman Treasure.

Both jockeys walked away from Friday’s incident, and Lopez even rode the remainder of his mounts on the card. But he complained of dizziness and shoulder pain after the races, went to the hospital and was found to have a very slight hairline fracture in his shoulder blade. according to his agent, Corey Moran.

“He’s in no pain and feeling much better today,” Moran said Saturday. “Right now we’re accepting calls and taking entries for him on Thursday, but he’ll see a specialist Monday and we’ll make a final decision from there.”

Bravo’s agent, Dan Nied, reported that Bravo also visited the hospital Friday evening and was found to have a slight concussion. He too is hoping to return on Thursday.

Another rider, apprentice Mario Argueta, will be absent indefinitely after suffering a broken left leg in a spill during Thursday’s sixth race. Luis Jurado, who was also involved in that incident, escaped unscathed and rode Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs.