Valdez breaks collarbone after mount breaks down

CYPRESS, Calif. – Jockey Felipe Valdez broke his collarbone after being unseated from Giant’s Lexis in Friday’s seventh race at Los Alamitos, track officials said Saturday.

Valdez, 37, was taken to nearby Long Beach Memorial Hospital after the spill and remained there overnight. He was scheduled to meet with a doctor Saturday, according to officials.

Giant’s Lexis broke down severely nearing the finish of an optional claimer for sprinters. The 3-year-old gelding was making his first start in the U.S. for trainer Doug O’Neill, having raced twice in Peru. Giant’s Lexis was euthanized as a result of a leg injury.

Valdez has won 45 races this year, one less than his career best of 46 wins achieved in 1998. Valdez won his first race at Hollywood Park in 1997 and rode at Emerald Downs in Washington and in New Mexico for much of 2014 before relocating to Southern California.

Valdez is a former leading rider at Portland Meadows but missed more than three years of racing from late 2010 until early 2014 after suffering a back injury in a spill at Hollywood Park.

The incident overshadowed a brilliant performance by race winner Seattle Serenade, who is unbeaten in two starts. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer for a partnership led by breeder John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm, Seattle Serenade won the six-furlong race by 6 1/4 lengths under jockey Mike Smith. Seattle Serenade was Smith’s only mount on the program.

A 3-year-old colt by Smart Strike, Seattle Serenade ($3.60) stalked the pacesetter Feisty’s Cause for the first half-mile before taking a commanding lead in early stretch.

Seattle Serenade has been based at Los Alamitos in recent months but will be transferred to Hollendorfer’s stable at Santa Anita soon. The colt won his debut in a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs Nov. 12 at Del Mar.

“We think this is as nice of a prospect as we’ve had in a long time,” said Hollendorfer. “He looks like he might do around two turns. I think the horse won within himself.”