Prado hopes to return soon from cuts sustained in spill

Jockey Edgar Prado took off all his mounts at Gulfsteam Park on Friday, with his status remaining day to day, according to his agent Bob Klesaris, in the wake of the frightening spill he was involved in here in Tuesday’s seventh race.

Prado was aboard Equilibrium, who clipped heels after pacesetter Royal Squeeze ducked out sharply and suddenly in the vicinity of the six-furlong pole.

Prado luckily escaped the incident with only severe lacerations above and next to his right eye that required nearly two dozen stitches to close and a lot of bumps and bruises. All other tests came back negative. The helmet he wore in the race was crushed from the force of the fall.

“Edgar looks like he’s been in a prize fight but otherwise he’s okay,” Klesaris said on Friday. “Right now it’s hard to say exactly when he’ll be back to ride, hopefully by the end of the weekend, although it’s impossible to predict at the moment.”

Prado was scheduled to be at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday to ride the undefeated 2-year-old Big Family in the Pasco Stakes. He’s also named on seven horses here Sunday, including Which Market in the featured eighth race and the promising Irish Score for longtime friend and client Graham Motion in the ninth.

Paco Lopez, who also went down when unable to avoid the fallen Equilibrium astride Saraguaro, escaped without injury. He returned an hour later to replace Prado and win Tuesday’s ninth race with Libby’sluckycharm.

Zayas sits for 10 days

Leading rider Edgard Zayas began serving a 10-day suspension on Tuesday for careless riding during the final race on Dec. 17.

Zayas was aboard Lilikoi, who angled in sharply causing Palace of Nowhere to clip heels and fall passing the wire for the first time in the one-mile turf race. Apprentice Tyler Gaffalione, the rider of Palace of Nowhere, walked away from the incident unscathed.

Zayas, who held a five-win advantage over Luis Saez and a six-victory lead over John Velazquez in the jockey standings entering Friday’s card, did earn the Luca Bella Restaurant jockey of the month award for December, which will be presented during Sunday’s card along with trainer of the month to Todd Pletcher and owner of the month to Ken and Sarah Ramsay.