Castellano avoids major injury but will miss last 2 days at Spa

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano suffered a dislocated ankle Saturday when his foot struck the inner rail during the running of the third race at Saratoga and will sit out the final two days of the track's meet.

Agent P.J. Campo told Horse Racing Nation that X-rays showed the 44-year-old rider did not break any bones and predicted that he's be ready to ride at the opening of the so-called Belmont at Aqueduct meet that opens on Sept. 15.

Castellano had been booked to ride a total of 19 horses on Sunday and Monday, including Ocala Dream (10-1) in the Bernard Baruch Handicap (G3) on Labor Day.

Daily Racing Form's David Grening said in a Twitter post that Castellano told him the impact, which occurred when his mount, 3-year-old colt Seal Beach for trainer Michael Maker, shifted inward while racing in tight quarters, ripped his boot but did not break the skin.

"I never seen anything like that, boot, socks and everything, he quoted Castellano as saying. "Thank God I had no cuts."

Castellano, a native of Venezuela, has been riding in the United States since 1997. Through Saturday, he had 5,542 victories from 30,586 mounts for an 18.19 win percentage. He was inducted into the National Racing Museum's Hall of Fame in 2017.

The traditional fall meet at Belmont Park was moved to Aqueduct this year because of an ongoing capital improvement project that will provide access to the track's spacious infield.