Jockey Ferrer injured in spill, will miss four weeks

Jockey Jose Ferrer will be sidelined approximately four weeks, according to doctors at the Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, N.J., after sustaining a cervical spinous process fracture to his upper spine and neck area, his agent, Steve Worsley, said Sunday evening.

Ferrer was injured in race 4 at Monmouth Park when his mount, Metallic, broke down nearing the far turn of the one-mile, $12,500 claiming race. Ferrer was thrown hard to the ground, and then The Best Candy, who was immediately behind him, fell over Metallic.

Metallic, trained by Jose Delgado, was euthanized after the accident. The Best Candy was vanned from the track. Isaac Castillo, the rider of The Best Candy, returned to ride in race 5 and won race 6.

Ferrer, 55, was the leading rider at Monmouth Park last year and is second in the current standings behind Nik Juarez.

Ferrer was badly injured in a September 2017 spill at Delaware Park, sustaining eight broken ribs, two fractured vertebrae, and a collapsed lung.

“Last time, the doctors told him he would be out six months, and he was back in 2 1/2,” Worsley said. “We’re fortunate; this spill could have been much worse.”