Jockey Jose Lezcano suffers broken bone in right hand in Saturday spill
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OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Jockey Jose Lezcano suffered a broken bone in his right hand as the result of a spill during the running of Aqueduct’s second race on Saturday, according to Lezcano’s agent Jason Beides.
It is not clear how much time Lezcano may miss.
Lezcano was aboard the 4-year-old filly Autumn in the six-furlong maiden turf race when the horse Central Speed, ridden by apprentice Jaime Torres, veered into Autumn’s path, causing Autumn to clip heels and go down, unseating Lezcano. Manny Franco, aboard Lady Laoban, veered inward trying to avoid Autumn, but hit that horse and then the inside rail. Franco, too, was unseated, but was able to get up quickly.
Lezcano lay on the course for a short time, before ultimately sitting up. He was taken off on a backboard, placed in the ambulance and transported to Jamaica Medical Center Hospital.
Lady Laoban was vanned off. Autumn was walked back to the barn area to be unsaddled.
Central Speed, who finished sixth, was disqualified to last.
Lezcano had to take off his remaining six mounts on the card including Arctic Arrogance, who finished fourth with Jorge Vargas Jr. in the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial.
Lezcano, 37, has ridden 49 winners in 2023 and has earned $3,044,088 in purse money. He was the third leading rider at Aqueduct’s winter meet and is the second-leading rider at Aqueduct’s spring meet.
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