Joel Rosario, one of two jockeys hospitalized following a Feb. 20 spill at Gulfstream Park, is nearing a return that could have him riding the week of the Apr. 2 GI Florida Derby, the final week of the 2015-16 Championship Meet.
Ron Anderson, Rosario's agent, said Thursday that the 31-year-old rider is scheduled to begin rehabilitation next week for a broken wrist suffered during the $75,000 Melody of Colors Stakes.
“Joel will start rehab on [Mar.] 20th and is due to ride about 10 days after that,” Anderson said. “So, in theory, we could ride Derby week seeing how things go. He was lucky. He had a clean break.”
Anderson likened the injury to one suffered by his former client, retired Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, who broke his wrist when he fell off a ladder while installing storm shutters in his home in 2004. Bailey missed six weeks but returned in time to ride in the Breeders' Cup at Lone Star Park.
“The same exact doctor that performed his surgery also operated on Joel,” he said. “It was a clean break and they didn't see any complications. All they did was go in and plate it, which speeds up the situation. It was a horrendous accident.”
Rosario, Rafael Hernandez and Edgard Zayas were all unseated from their mounts in the Melody of Colors, a five-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-old fillies. Brandy's Girl, with Hernandez up, fell shortly after entering the stretch and Rosario, aboard Kandoo, tumbled over the fallen horse and rider.
Hernandez was released from the hospital Sunday and is scheduled to start physical therapy shortly, his agent Cliff Collier reported Thursday.
The veteran jockey sustained internal injuries that required the removal of a kidney. Hernandez, 29, also sustained multiple fractures in his collarbone and three broken ribs, said Collier.
“He got out of the hospital Sunday and he went to get a check-up on his kidney [Wednesday] and that went well,” he said. “He has to do therapy on his shoulder. He had 10 screws put into his collarbone.”
Collier said Hernandez's spirits have been improving and noted that his client could start getting on horses as soon as June.
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