Saez to Return at Gulfstream on Friday

Luis Saez, the second-leading rider at Gulfstream Park's championship meet, will return this week after escaping serious injury during a spill in Saturday’s 10^th race.

Richard DePass, Saez’s agent, on Sunday told the Gulfstream media office that Saez was banged up but otherwise fine after being thrown over the head of his mount, Squadron A, when the 6-year-old gelding stumbled approaching the stretch in the one-mile dirt track race.

Saez, a 23-year-old native of Panama, was loaded by stretcher onto a waiting ambulance and taken to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood for observation complaining of wrist, ankle and chest pain. He was replaced on his three remaining mounts Saturday and each of his seven on Sunday.

           

“X-rays showed no broken bones, but he’s a little sore today so he’s off his mounts,” DePass said. “He’ll be back riding Friday.”

           

Saez has 81wins at the championship meet. Javier Castellano, the four-time defending champion, leads with 106. There are ten race days left in the meet, which ends April 3.