Santa Anita: Espinoza takes off weekend mounts following Friday spill

ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockey Victor Espinoza was taken off his mounts at Santa Anita over the weekend after being involved in a spill in Friday’s Pasadena Stakes.

Steward Kim Sawyer said that Espinoza did not suffer any broken bones in the spill, but had complained of pain in an arm. The jockey’s agent, Brad Pegram, was not available for comment on Saturday morning.

Espinoza was aboard the 63-1 shot That’s Dangerous in the one-mile turf race. When the field moved into early stretch, That’s Dangerous broke down badly, unseating Espinoza. That’s Dangerous, a 3-year-old colt who raced in England last year, was making his American debut. That’s Dangerous was euthanized.

Sawyer said that Espinoza was taken to the track’s first aid center, and then transported to a local hospital for X-rays, which showed no broken bones.

Through Friday, Espinoza, 39, ranked sixth in the jockey’s standings with 27 wins. He has two stakes wins at the meeting, and is expected to ride Midnight Transfer in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 7.