Jockey Bocachica breaks arm, jaw in spill

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Jockey Orlando Bocachica underwent surgery to repair a compound fracture in his left arm and a broken jaw suffered when he fell after his mount, Centella, ducked into the gap shortly after the start of Wednesday’s second race.

“He came out of the surgery okay,” said Bocachica’s agent, Jay Rushing. “From what I understand, he had two plates inserted in his jaw.”

Bocachica guided Lochte to an upset victory here last winter in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap for the first Grade 1 win of his career. He also won the Grade 2 Monmouth Cup last summer aboard Valid. Both those victories came for trainer Marcus Vitali.

Bocachica is tied for ninth place in the jockeys’ standings with nine victories during the Gulfstream Park championship meeting.