Santa Anita notes: Apprentice Nicolas sidelined with injury

Apprentice jockey Gonzalo Nicolas faces four to six weeks on the sidelines after suffering an injury to his lower back in a one-horse spill Thursday, according to his agent, Vince DeGregory.

Nicolas, who began riding in 2013 and has 25 wins, was unseated when Shand fell in early stretch of Thursday’s eighth race for maiden claimers over six furlongs. Nicolas was transported to a local hospital and released Thursday evening.

Shand was euthanized as a result of injuries suffered in the spill, trainer Peter Eurton said.

Nicolas, 23, won for the first time at Los Alamitos last May and moved to the Southern California Thoroughbred circuit last summer. He had eight wins at the Hollywood Park fall meeting, where he was the leading apprentice rider.

Nicolas rode his first winner of the Santa Anita meet Wednesday.

Regally Ready eyes stakes

Regally Ready, winner of the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, won an allowance race over a mile on turf Thursday, and that win could lead to a start in a stakes over a mile on turf later at this meeting.

Ridden by Mike Smith, the 7-year-old Regally Ready ($8) led throughout the allowance race, winning by 1 1/4 lengths over 2-1 favorite Bio Pro. The allowance race was Regally Ready’s second win in his last three starts. He won an allowance race over a mile on turf at Keeneland in October.

“It was nice to see him back winning,” said Scott Blasi, trainer Steve Asmussen’s assistant. “He doesn’t act like he wants to sprint anymore.”

There are two major stakes for turf milers in coming months that may include Regally Ready – the $200,000 Arcadia Stakes on Feb. 1 and the $350,000 Frank Kilroe Mile on March 8.

◗ The 3-year-old filly Famous Alice was scratched from Wednesday’s Blue Norther Stakes on turf because of an abscess in a foot, trainer Tom Proctor said. Famous Alice was the second choice on the morning line for that one-mile turf race.