Buccherino, the winner of the $150,000 Parx Sprint on Saturday, suffered an injury to his left front hoof during the race and will likely have to miss time. Injuries to the hoof have been a recurring issue for the four-time stakes winner throughout, and trainer Alfredo Velazquez said that this case does not appear to be as severe as past setbacks. Velazquez had mixed emotions when Buccherino weathered an early duel and dug in to win the final race on Pennsylvania Derby Day. He was thrilled by the gutsy performance, but as he inspected the 4-year-old colt in a raucous winner’s circle, the trainer noticed that he was bleeding and seemed uneasy while having his picture taken. At first, Velazquez feared the worst. Almost a year ago to the day, Buccherino suffered a more serious injury to the same hoof when he finished third in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob on the 2024 Pennsylvania Derby Day card. He did not race again until May this year. “He doesn’t look as bad as he did last year,” Velazquez said. “But we’re going to go day by day and see how he’s doing.” The trainer explained that Buccherino has managed to run well through the injury several times because it does not have an immediate impact on his running ability. On Tuesday, he said that the hoof is tender, causing discomfort and soreness during walks along the shed row. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. Based on the relatively minor nature of the colt’s latest injury, Velazquez said he is hopeful that Buccherino can return to racing before the end of the year. The trainer was considering a step up to graded stakes company after Buccherino earned his third stakes victory in five starts last weekend, but those plans may have to wait. If Buccherino manages to make it back this year, his home track may be the ideal spot. At Parx, which runs through the winter each year, the Florida-bred has won 6 of 7 starts. He is undefeated in four attempts at 6 1/2 furlongs, all at Parx. Repo Rocks has soft tissue problem Repo Rocks, a 7-year-old gelding trained by Jamie Ness, will also have to miss some time after suffering a setback on the Saturday card at Parx. Ness said that the gelding was okay and described it as a “soft tissue injury” that will require rest. The hard-knocking graded stakes winner was stretching out to 1 1/2 miles in the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup on Saturday when he suddenly began to drop back after three-quarters of a mile, eventually fading to last. After the race, jockey Francisco Martinez pulled him up and he was taken off the track in an equine ambulance. Ness said that he is expected to recover from the injury. In 54 starts, Repo Rocks has won 11 races, including the 2023 editions of the Grade 3 Westchester and Grade 3 Toboggan. The 7-year-old has become a popular figure on the East Coast, winning stakes in New York, Pennsylvania, and his home state of Virginia since his debut in 2020. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.