Rider Roberto Gonzalez hurts neck and ankle

ALBANY, Calif. Jockey Roberto Gonzalez broke the C-2 vertebrae in his neck and a bone in his left ankle and will be sidelined indefinitely after an accident Wednesday.

Gonzalez, 54, who has 4,454 career victories, was hurt when his mount, Free Runnin, lost action in her hind legs and ducked into the path of Devil Singletary in the sixth race, a two-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies.

Devil Singletary could not avoid Free Runnin, and the collision dropped Free Running, who suffered a fractured left front leg and was euthanized. Alfredo Miranda, who rode Devil Singletary, suffered a sprained neck and bruised right knee. Devil Singletary was not injured.

Gonzalez was fitted with a neck brace at Highlands Hospital in Oakland on Thursday to stabilize the C-2 break and a cast for his ankle.