Jockey Junior Alvarado, who has ridden leading GI Kentucky Derby chance Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in each of his four career starts to date, will miss about three weeks after fracturing his shoulder blade in a Sunday accident at Gulfstream Park. Daily Racing Form was first to report the news.
Alvarado's mount in Sunday's 10th race at Gulfstream Park, Term (Medaglia d'Oro), suffered a fatal heart attack, according to DRF, and the rider's agent Mike Sellitto told the publication that Alvarado was looking after his horse when he was clipped by another horse in the field. A Monday X-ray confirmed the injury.
“The injury was very slight, they could barely find it at first on the X-ray, but barring a miracle, Junior will likely miss about three weeks,” Sellitto told the Form.
Sovereignty is the morning-line favorite for Saturday's GI Curlin Florida Derby, and Sellitto told Daily Racing Form that trainer Bill Mott is scheduled to confer with Godolphin principles on Tuesday to go over their options.
Sovereignty broke his maiden in the GIII Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs Oct. 27 and turned in a sensational sophomore debut when running down 'TDN Rising Star' River Thames (Maclean's Music) to take out the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes on Mar. 1.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
