Santa Anita: Gomez has surgery

ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockey Garrett Gomez underwent surgery to have screws and a stabilizing plate inserted in his left ankle on Thursday following an accident near the Santa Anita paddock on Jan. 8.

Gomez, 40, is expected to be sidelined until at least early March.

Pam Gomez, the jockey’s wife, said her husband will learn more about his expected recovery time at a doctor’s appointment on Jan. 24. She said the extent of the injury “was a little more than expected.” The surgery required the insertion of 10 screws and a plate.

Gomez was injured when he was unseated from Silver Summation as the field for the Daytona Stakes was walking from the paddock to the racetrack.

The injury came at a time tough for Gomez, who won the Sham Stakes with Out of Bounds on Jan. 7. “He wants to get back soon,” Pam Gomez said. “He doesn’t want to miss the awesome stock he’s been riding.”