Ward aide still unconscious

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Yvonne Azeff, who suffered a head injury in a training-hour accident at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, remained in serious but stable condition on Thurdsay at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, according to Tara Bauer, a hospital spokeswoman.

Azeff, the assistant trainer to John Ward, has not regained consciousness since the incident and her condition has remained virtually unchanged over the past several days.

Azeff, 41, was injured when her stable pony became agitated while accompanying another horse back to Ward's barn. The pony subsequently bumped into the side of a barn, ran into a chain link fence and fell, pinning Azeff beneath him. Azeff was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

Azeff, a native of Philadelphia, was a key member of the team that prepared the recently retired Monarchos for his victory in the 2001 Kentucky Derby.