Van Dyke escapes serious injury in pre-race mishap

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Drayden Van Dyke escaped serious injury after his mount in Thursday’s sixth race reared back and struck the rider in the face, causing a bloody nose and cut lip.

The incident happened shortly after the post parade began for the sixth race. Callie Mesa was startled by another 2-year-old filly and reacted by throwing her head back, Van Dyke said.

“She hit me right in the face, more on the nose and the lip,” Van Dyke said Friday morning. “It did hit my front two teeth, but not directly.

“I definitely had my bell rung. I wanted to stand up and I thought, I’ll take a knee for a second.”

Callie Mesa, who was scratched, was Van Dyke’s final mount of the day. He spent Friday morning at Los Alamitos riding workouts before returning to Del Mar.

Through Thursday, Van Dyke is 10th in the standings at the summer meeting with six wins.