Rodriguez, still recovering from injury, will miss mount on big horse

Jockey Filemon Rodriguez is recovering from injuries sustained in a recent race at Evangeline Downs, but will not be ready to ride Mocito Rojo in the $175,000 Governor’s Cup on Aug. 23 at Remington Park.

Rodriguez fractured his collarbone and one rib and also punctured a lung when his mount, Bullet the New Sky, fell in the first race Aug. 3. The rider spent two days at a local hospital and is supposed to complete therapy for his injuries on Sept. 10, said trainer Shane Wilson, who trains Mocito Rojo.

“He had a checkup on Monday, and it looks like he doesn’t have to have surgery,” Wilson said Saturday. “They put him in a brace. He’s staying with Diego Saenz. Diego and his wife and her family are taking care of him.”

Wilson said Saenz insisted Rodriguez come stay with him through his recovery. Saenz is battling for the riding title at Evangeline and led all of his peers in mount earnings through Friday.

Rodriguez has won 14 races aboard Mocito Rojo, including the horse’s last three in a streak that started in March with the Owner Appreciation Cup at Delta Downs and continued in April with the Grade 3, $300,000 Steve Sexton Mile at Lone Star Park and May with the $100,000 Evangeline Mile at the horse’s home base of Evangeline. Rodriguez also regularly galloped Mocito Rojo, who races for Wayne T. Davis.

Wilson said Gerard Melancon will ride Mocito Rojo in the Governor’s Cup.

“Gerard will go to Remington and ride him for us,” Wilson said. “He’s the only other rider to win on him.”

Wilson said Melancon was aboard Mocito Rojo on Aug. 7, when the horse worked a half-mile in 47 seconds at Evangeline. Wilson had him galloping out five-eighths in a bit over 59 seconds.

“He worked super,” he said. “He came back kicking and squealing.”

Wilson said Rodriguez will miss two additional stakes mounts for the barn – Sea Bee Salute in the $75,000 El Joven on Wednesday night at Retama Park and Harlan Selection in the $60,000 Frank L. Brothers – the former Unbridled – on Sept. 7 at Louisiana Downs.

Melancon will ride Harlan Selection, who is coming off a runner-up finish in the John Henry Stakes at Evangeline. Tommy Pompell has the mount on Sea Bee Salute, who will go a mile on turf in the El Joven for 2-year-olds.

“He’s one of the better turf riders over here at Evangeline,” Wilson said of selecting Pompell. “He’s very patient.

“He blew him out, and it seems like they got along well.”

Sea Bee Salute is coming off a maiden special weight win at Evangeline.

Rodriguez is expected to resume race riding for the Delta Downs meet, which opens Oct. 8.

“He should be good to go by then,” Wilson said.

Mocito Rojo, whose five stakes wins and the bulk of his more than $500,000 in earnings have come under Rodriguez, is scheduled to ship to Remington the week of the Governor’s Cup. The race, which will be run at 1 1/8 miles, opens the meet. It drew 30 nominations, with entries to be taken Friday.

Sunland to donate to El Paso victims

Sunland Park in New Mexico plans to donate a total of $100,000 to two foundations assisting families following the mass shooting in neighboring El Paso, Texas, the track announced late Friday.

Sunland also is planning a benefit for the families on a future day. The track operates a casino and opens for live racing in December.

Many on the New Mexico circuit and in the racing community at large have longstanding ties to El Paso because of its close proximity to Sunland, which opened in 1959.

“As a part of the greater El Paso area, we feel very connected to this close-knit community,” Ethan Linder, director of marketing for Sunland, said in a press release. “Many of our employees and most of our visitors live in El Paso, so we’ve all really been impacted by this terrible tragedy. That’s why we didn’t think twice about making this donation that will go to help our friends and neighbors.”

Sunland is donating to the El Paso Community Foundation’s El Paso Shooting Victims’ Fund and the Paso del Norte Community Foundation’s El Paso Victims Relief Fund, according to the press release. It’s meant to assist families affected by the shooting at a Wal-Mart in El Paso that left 22 dead and others hospitalized on Aug. 3.

◗ Leadem in Ken returns from a layoff in Wednesday night’s featured eighth race at the Downs at Albuquerque. The start in the optional $17,500 claiming sprint at 6 1/2 furlongs will be his first since winning the Stonerside Stakes on Jan. 27 at Sam Houston. Leadem in Ken has a 5-for-8 record at Albuquerque.

◗ Mr Money Bags, who was scratched from the Prelude Stakes for 3-year-olds Aug. 3 at Louisiana Downs after being treated for slight symptoms of colic, is entered Wednesday night at Retama Park. Mr Money Bags is a three-time stakes winner. The no-conditions allowance at a mile on turf also drew Redatory, winner of the $50,000 Assault Stakes in his last start July 14 at Lone Star.