Oaklawn: Santana cleared to resume riding
Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. went to a specialist Monday to address a separated shoulder he sustained in a spill last week at Oaklawn, and he received clearance to ride, according to his agent, Ruben Munoz.
Munoz said tests revealed Santana has equal strength in both arms. Munoz said the specialist felt Santana’s excellent health as a professional athlete, coupled with his young age, contributed to the quicker-than-anticipated recovery. Santana, 24, is a multiple title winner at Oaklawn.
Jockey Didiel Osorio, who will miss the remainder of the Oaklawn meet after sustaining a hairline fracture in his T5 and T7 vertebrae in the same spill, went over his initial diagnostics with a specialist on Monday, said his agent, Jose Santos Jr.
The recommendation was six weeks’ rest, Santos said, with an MRI scheduled for April 15 in Florida.
Osorio is recuperating in Hot Springs. Santos said if the MRI comes back clean, the hope is that Osorio will be cleared to get back on horses at an appointment that is scheduled for April 19.
Santos said there is no specific timeline for Osorio to resume race riding. He said the rider will start getting on horses, and when comfortable, will return to competition.