Saratoga: Rosario breaks bone in foot after being unseated

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Jockey Joel Rosario, scheduled to ride Kentucky Derby winner Orb in Saturday’s $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga and leading handicap horse Game On Dude in Sunday’s $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar, suffered a broken bone in his left foot on Friday in a spill at Saratoga, and his status to ride this weekend was uncertain.

Rosario was scheduled to meet with a orthopedist, Dr. Rick Alfred, a New York Giants team physician, on Saturday morning to determine his status.

Rosario was aboard Casual Elegance, who finished last in Saratoga’s seventh race. Casual Elegance bobbled and unseated Rosario, who lay on the turf for several minutes. He eventually got up under his own power and limped over to a golf cart. He was taken to first aid and then was advised to go to Saratoga Hospital.

Rosario, the second-leading rider at this meet with 41 wins, was scheduled to ride Judy the Beauty in Friday’s Grade 1 Ballerina.

That mount was given to Jose Lezcano. Judy the Beauty, however, flipped in the starting gate before the start and was scratched. Lezcano suffered a twisted knee, according to his agent, Jason Beides.

Lezcano's status was also likely to be determined on Saturday morning.

Lezcano, the fourth-leading rider at the meet with 21 wins, does not have a mount in the Travers, but he is scheduled to ride Majestic Hussar in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop, and Grade 1 winner Laughing in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa.

Rosario is scheduled to ride Forty Tales in the King’s Bishop, My Happy Face in the Grade 1 Test and Somali Lemonade in the Ballston Spa.

- additional reporting by Mike Welsch