Jocks escape injury in spill

Three jockeys were fortunate to escape serious injury despite their involvement in an ugly-looking spill Friday at Aqueduct.

Apprentice jockey Channing Hill was being examined for a possible concussion, fellow apprentice Pablo Morales suffered facial lacerations, and journeyman rider Chuck Lopez was just body-sore after the three were unseated from their mounts at the quarter pole of Friday's third race.

Lopez was aboard Happy Face, who broke his left front ankle while making a three-wide bid for the lead approaching the quarter pole of a mid-level claiming race. Trailing horses Pavlina, with Morales up, and Allens Blessing, under Hill, subsequently fell. Hill was catapulted into the air and appeared to hit the ground hard. Morales also went down hard and lay motionless for several minutes.

Lopez immediately got up, but took off his remaining two mounts complaining of pain in the left side of his rib cage and thumb.

Hill and Morales were both taken to nearby Jamaica Hospital for evaluation. According to agent Richie DePass, Morales was released in mid-afternoon with cuts to his face. Hill, according to his agent, Drew Mollica, was to have undergone a CAT scan for a possible concussion. He was scheduled to be released Friday evening.

It was uncertain how much time, if any, the jockeys would miss.

Among the horses, Fast Laner was euthanized. Pavlina and Allens Blessing were uninjured.