Lone Star leading rider Hernandez cleared early for return

Lone Star Park leading jockey Harry Hernandez will return to riding Wednesday after receiving a doctor’s clearance, agent Cody Autrey said. Hernandez had been sidelined with a collapsed lung and four cracked ribs in a spill June 14. At the time, it was expected he would miss the remainder of the meet, which ends July 14.

However, Hernandez said on Monday he was not having any significant or traditional pain associated with injured ribs and wanted to move up his next doctor’s appointment that was for early July. He received clearance to ride on Tuesday.

Hernandez was injured on a Friday night and said he left the hospital on a Monday.

“I was feeling a little pain for two days, but after one or two days, I was just feeling better and better and better,” Hernandez said. “It never hurt. It’s been really good.”

Hernandez leads the current standings with 36 wins. Apprentice Erik Asmussen is second in the standings, with 29 wins through Tuesday.

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