Panici fractures collarbone in spill, likely out about four weeks
Jockey Luca Panici, the regular rider for Kentucky Derby contenders Sole Volante and Ete Indien, will be sidelined at least four weeks after sustaining a fractured collarbone as a result of a riding mishap in Friday's final race.
Panici fell from Terrible Tara after the 3-year-old filly swerved suddenly and hit the inner rail on the second turn of the one-mile maiden claiming event on the turf. Panici returned to the jockeys room on his own power seemingly none the worse for wear, but after feeling a twinge in his shoulder a short while later went to the hospital where X-rays later confirmed the injury.
"The doctors say he should be able to return in about four weeks," said Panici's agent Kevin Meyocks. "But he's going to see a specialist on Monday for a second opinion."
Panici is in the midst of a solid meet, having won 11 races during the Championship session. He also guided Sole Volante to an impressive victory earlier this month in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs and Ete Indien to a second place finish behind odds-on favorite Tiz the Law in the Grade 2 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 1. Ete Indien is scheduled to compete in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth here next Saturday. Both Sole Volante and Ete Indien are trained by Patrick Biancone.
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"Luca called Patrick last night to update him on the diagnosis," Meyocks said. "Obviously this couldn't have come at a worse time as Luca has had a very good meet and also had the mounts on two top 3-year-olds, both of whom are currently on the Derby trail."
Florent Geroux will replace Panici aboard Ete Indien in the Fountain of Youth and will also ride Sole Volante when he makes his next start two weeks later in the Tampa Bay Derby, per his agent Doug Bredar.
Dean Reeves, who owns the majority interest in Sole Volante, said Saturday that "obviously we're really disappointed that [Panici] got injured. I'm glad to hear it's nothing major. He fits this horse and has done such a great job. Just the way he's handled this horse has been spectacular."
Sole Volante had a work postponed Saturday morning due to weather conditions that has been rescheduled for Sunday on the turf at Palm Meadows according to Reeves.