Two riders injured in separate spills Thursday

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Three spills in a span of three racing days at Gulfstream have left two jockeys sidelined with injuries.

Richard Mitchell was hospitalized with facial injuries sustained when his mount, Perfect State, clipped heels and fell, throwing the rider to the turf in the final turn of the 10th race Thursday. Two other jockeys were thrown from their mounts but were not seriously hurt, nor were any of the three horses, according to track officials.

Mitchell has ridden sparingly on this circuit since moving here in April 2016 from Northern California, where he began his career in December 2014. He has 19 wins from 421 career mounts in North America.

Earlier Thursday, apprentice Carlos Jimenez suffered a fractured upper vertebra in a fifth-race spill and will wear a neck brace for about four weeks, according to agent Cliff Collier. Jimenez fell near the outer rail of the turf course as his mount, Forty Lengths, swerved outward and over the rail. The 3-year-old gelding had to be euthanized due to his injuries. No other jockeys or horses were involved.

On Monday, a three-horse spill on the main track led to Double Cabernet being euthanized, with no riders or other horses being seriously injured. Double Cabernet was ridden by Jose Ortiz, a finalist for the 2017 Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey.

None of the races were available on replay in accordance with track policy.