Two jockeys sidelined after Gulfstream spill

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Jockeys Rafael Hernandez and Joel Rosario will be sidelined indefinitely after being injured in a frightening chain-reaction spill that took place in early stretch of Saturday’s Melody of Colors Stakes.

Hernandez broke several ribs, fractured a collarbone, and sustained internal injuries that required surgery Sunday to remove one of his kidneys. He remained in intensive care at Hollywood Memorial East Hospital as of Monday. Rosario underwent surgery Monday to repair a broken wrist. Edgard Zayas, who also was involved in the incident, took off his mounts here Sunday due to a swollen ankle but was expected to be back Wednesday.

Hernandez was aboard Brandy’s Girl, who fell after appearing to be bumped by the pacesetting More Royalty in early stretch of the Melody of Colors on the Gulfstream grass course. Rosario’s mount, Kandoo, also went down when she tripped over the prone Brandy’s Girl. Zayas was unseated after his mount, Hi Holiday, swerved sharply while attempting to avoid the two downed horses.

Kandoo had to be euthanized on the track. Brandy’s Girl and Hi Holiday appeared to escape unscathed.

“It’s a standard fracture like anyone would get trying to escape a fall,” said Rosario’s agent, Ron Anderson. “They’ll put a plate in to speed up the healing. He should be out about four to five weeks. He was very lucky it’s not worse. Joel’s helmet split right in two, so that helmet did its job. It probably saved his life.”

Cliff Collier, Hernandez’s agent, said, “There is no damage to the spine. That’s the good news, but he’s in a lot of pain, and he’s going to be in the hospital for a while.”

Rosario is the regular rider for Awesome Speed, one of the favorites in Saturday’s Fountain of Youth Stakes, and Economic Model, who is scheduled to run next month in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby. He will be replaced on both mounts by Irad Ortiz Jr., according to Alan Goldberg, who trains Awesome Speed, and Chad Brown, who conditions Economic Model.

Zayas had to give up the mount Sunday on the undefeated Off the Tracks, an easy winner of the Margate Handicap under replacement rider Tyler Gaffalione.