Tampa Bay Downs: Leading rider De La Cruz injured in spill

OLDSMAR Fl. – Fernando De La Cruz, who was in the midst of his best meeting ever and was holding a comfortable lead in the local riders' standings, will be sidelined at least four weeks as he recovers from injuries suffered when he went down in a spill during the stretch run of Friday’s ninth race.

De La Cruz, who has won 23 races at the meet, was battling for the lead in midstretch of the mile and a sixteenth turf race aboard favored Poster Girl when the 3-year-old filly suddenly ducked to the inside and crashed through the portable inner rail, unseating De La Cruz.

The jockey was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where an examination revealed he had suffered a fractured right wrist. His agent, Don Cespedes, reported his rider would be sidelined four to six weeks.

Poster Girl was vanned off after the incident but was not seriously injured.