Jockey Reylu Gutierrez, originally diagnosed with four minor vertebrae fractures and expected to miss at least four weeks following a spill here last Saturday, was cleared to resume riding Wednesday after getting a second opinion from a spine specialist Tuesday.
“It looks like the hospital misdiagnosed his condition,” Gutierrez’s agent, Bryce Soth, said. “He went to a spine specialist and has been cleared to ride.”
Jockey Corey Lanerie will be represented by jockey agent Richie Price when the Keeneland race meet begins April 6.
The pairing definitely was not premeditated. Price’s rider, Miguel Mena, was injured in a spill March 15 at Fair Grounds. Mena broke bones in his heel and ankle. He sees an orthopedic specialist Wednesday, after which a more detailed timeline for his return could emerge, but Price said earlier this week that Mena, who was leading rider at the meet before he got hurt, could be out of action for as long as six months.
Restoring Hope is being pointed for the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby on Sunday, said trainer Bob Baffert. The 1 1/8-mile race awards 85 points for the Kentucky Derby on a scale of 50-20-10-5.
Baffert said Flavien Prat has the mount on Restoring Hope, who earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 89 for a maiden special weight route win last month at Santa Anita.
Jockey Jose Flores, a winner of 4,650 races, was on life support at Aria Jefferson Torresdale Hospital in Philadelphia on Tuesday morning after going down in a spill during the ninth race at Parx Racing on Monday. Flores suffered extensive cranial and spinal injuries in the accident and is not expected to survive.
Parx Racing has canceled its Tuesday card, according to Sam Elliott, the track's director of racing.
"We've canceled out of respect for Jose, his career, and his family," Elliott said. "Jose has been a very well respected mentor in the local jockey colony."
Snapper Sinclair and Retirement Fund put the finishing touches on their major Louisiana Derby preparation Monday, each working a comfortable solo half-mile at Fair Grounds for trainer Steve Asmussen. Retirement Fund went his half in 50.80, Snapper Sinclair in 49.60.
“All is well with them,” said Asmussen. “I expect them to run good.”
The first and only starter trainer Keith Desormeaux will have at this Fair Grounds meet comes in the most important race of the meet.
My Boy Jack is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in Saturday’s $1 million Louisiana Derby. The colt was to ship Tuesday morning from California. His trainer has made a much deeper journey since he called New Orleans home every winter.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Bravazo worked a bullet Sunday at Oaklawn in his final prep for the Louisiana Derby. He is scheduled to ship to Fair Grounds on Thursday, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said.
The horse won last month’s Grade 2 Risen Star in New Orleans.
Bravazo worked five furlongs by himself in a 59.60 seconds, the fastest move of 26 at the distance. Oaklawn head clocker Jim Hamilton had the horse galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.20.
“He worked really well,” Lukas said. “I was very pleased with it. I thought it was stronger than even the previous work.”
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Martini Glass invaded Oaklawn from Tampa Bay Downs and defeated a strong group of fillies and mares in the Grade 2, $350,000 Azeri on Saturday. It was her second straight stakes victory behind the Grade 3 Royal Delta in February at Gulfstream.
Martini Glass earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 94 in the Azeri, a point off her career-high number of 95.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Hedge Fund and Untrapped, both of whom earned career-high Beyer Speed Figures for their one-two finish in the $300,000 Essex Handicap last Saturday at Oaklawn, could meet again in the Grade 2, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap on April 14.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Hedge Fund put up a Beyer of 103 for his 2 3/4-length victory in the Essex. He set quick fractions – 46.13 seconds for the first half-mile and 1:10.45 for six furlongs – then turned back a bid at the top of the stretch before going on to cover 1 1/16 miles in a sharp 1:42.06.
