Jockey Ortiz to Leave Hospital Monday

Apprentice rider Jose Ortiz was scheduled to be released from North Shore University Hospital Monday afternoon after an overnight stay following a spill in Sunday afternoon’s eighth race at Belmont Park.

According to the NYRA Jockey Advocate, CT Scans and X-rays were negative on Ortiz, with the exception of a bruised lung.

“We won’t rush into anything,” said Ortiz’s agent, Mike Gonzalez, regarding when he might return to the races. “We will find out more from the doctors and go from there.”

Ortiz, the brother of jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., was unseated when his mount, Destination Moon, clipped heels with another horse at the half-mile pole. Destination Moon, a 3-year-old daughter of Golden Missile trained by Hall of Famer H Allen Jerkens, appeared uninjured in the incident.

In 2012, Ortiz has ridden 44 winners from 350 starters.