Jockey Pablo Morales has successful surgery on finger

Jockey Pablo Morales was recovering from surgery Monday after breaking his pinkie finger in a gate accident at Tampa Bay Downs on Sunday.

Morales was aboard 4-year-old filly Nicolino in the starting gate for the first race when the horse to their outside struck the jockey's hand after rearing in the stall, according to Paulick Report.

Morales said in a Twitter post Sunday that the finger was "almost completely amputated."

In a Monday post, Morales said, "surgery went well and they were able to reattach my finger. it was a really bad break so they want to see how the next few weeks play out but we are optimistic that it’s on to stay!"

Daniel Centeno replaced Morales on Nicolino and finished second as the odds-on favorite.

The filly who reared, Azulene, was scratched but ran Monday, finishing last in a maiden claiming race at Tampa Bay Downs.

Morales, who has been riding in the U.S. since 2005, has a record this year of 192: 36-36-35. He is second in the Tampa Bay Downs jockey standings with 53 wins since the current meet began.