Jockey Franco takes off mounts after morning spill

Jockey Geovanni Franco took off his mounts on Sunday after he was involved in a spill during morning training.

Franco was aboard Arson, an unraced 2-year-old trained by Richard Baltas who sustained a fatal injury during a workout.

Earlier on Sunday morning, Needless to Say, a maiden race winner here in August 2020 for trainer Dean Pederson, died of an apparent internal injury during exercise, according to a track official.

Franco was taken to a local hospital and was released in late morning, according to his agent, Mike Ciani.

“He was cleared,” Ciani said. “By Wednesday, he will be 100 percent.”

Ciani said Franco will resume working horses Wednesday and will ride Friday, the next day of live racing at Del Mar.

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