Rash of spills hits jockeys hard

ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. took off his final three mounts Saturday and all of Sunday after being shaken up in a one-horse spill in Saturday's fifth race.

Pincay was aboard Trampus Too, who fell after clipping heels with Rainman's Request when the field crossed over from the hillside portion of the turf course onto the main turf oval.

Pincay missed a ride on Redattore, who won Saturday's $400,000 Frank Kilroe Mile with substitute jockey Alex Solis.

Pincay did not ride Sunday due to soreness, according to his agent, Bob Meldahl. Pincay is booked to ride five horses Wednesday.

Trampus Too did not appear to be injured in the spill. Rainman's Request eventually finished second, and was disqualified and placed last.

His jockey, Tony Farina, received a seven-day suspension Sunday for altering course without sufficient clearance. Farina, who is from France, is in his first year of riding in California. The suspension starts Thursday and continues through March 14.

Jockey disabled list grows

There were four spills in five days of racing last week at Santa Anita.

Wednesday, a horse ridden by Joe Steiner clipped heels and fell a quarter of a mile into a sprint race. Jockey Matt Garcia received a 10-day suspension for his role in the spill. He was cited for crossing over without sufficient clearance. According to his agent and wife, Laurie, Garcia is appealing the suspension, but has not ridden since Saturday. He does not have any mounts Wednesday.

Steiner underwent two surgeries over the weekend and remains hospitalized, according to his wife, Jane.

Friday, Steiner had surgery to have a plate and six screws inserted into a bone below his right eye. Sunday, he had a pin inserted into a heel to accelerate healing. Jane Steiner said her husband has not suffered any damage to his eyes, but does have considerable swelling on the right side of his face.

Thursday, jockeys Victor Espinoza and Felipe Martinez were unseated from their mounts after Espinoza's mount, Ellenhighwater, broke down in the stretch of a sprint for $10,000 claimers. Martinez did not ride for the remainder of the racing week, complaining of soreness. He is booked to ride Wednesday.

Espinoza was involved in another spill Sunday when his mount in the first race, Jahaam, broke down in early stretch of a turf race for $55,000 to $62,500 claimers. Espinoza was taken to first aid, but was cleared to ride the remainder of the program. He took off his final two mounts on the program, complaining of pain in his wrist.

Sligo Bay sidelined

Sligo Bay, who was expected to make his dirt debut in the Big Cap, was scratched Saturday morning because of a minor foot injury, trainer Beau Greely said.

Greely said Sligo Bay was found to be off in his right front foot after galloping Friday.

"He was pretty sound this morning, but if you're not 110 percent it's not the right thing to do," Greely said Saturday.

Greely thought Sligo Bay could have an abscess or a bruise. The winner of the Hollywood Turf Cup last November, Sligo Bay will be walked at the barn this week before plans are finalized for his next race, Greely said.

Luvah Girl an instant U.S. hit

Luvah Girl, a group stakes winner in England last fall, won her U.S. debut in Friday's $110,800 La Habra Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the hillside turf course.

Owned by Gary Barber and the Team Valor Syndicate, Luvah Girl held off the late rally of 18-1 Katogdawn to win the race by a head. Jenine Sahadi trains Luvah Girl.

- There were 20 claims submitted for Forty Pureza, who finished second in a $16,000 claiming race Friday. Trainer Julio Canani won the claim for the 5-year-old Argentine-bred mare.