Rosario to miss week of riding with sprained ankle

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jockey Joel Rosario, who hasn’t ridden since Nov. 7, will miss his assignments this week due to a sprained ankle suffered during the last race on that card.

Rosario was injured when his foot got caught in the stirrups before he lost his iron altogether trying to avoid a fallen horse in front of him. Rosario eased his horse, English Castle.

Rosario was forced to take off Saturday and Sunday and is now targeting Nov. 20 for his return to the saddle, according to agent Ron Anderson.

Further, Anderson said that Rosario will ride through Dec.7 before moving his tack to Oaklawn Park for the winter.

Anderson said “big purses and lots of horses” are the reasons to give Oaklawn a try this winter. Rosario rode the 2024-25 winter at Gulfstream Park and the 2023-24 winter at Santa Anita.

Rosario last rode the Oaklawn meet on a regular basis in 2021-22 when he won 27 races from 116 mounts.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.