Pedroza Takes Break Following Spill

Initial X-rays were negative on apprentice jockeys Charlie Amaro and Brian Pedroza after a spill in the ninth race Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack, according to NYRA’s jockey advocate.

Following the incident, both riders were taken by ambulance to Jamaica Hospital for further evaluation. According to the advocate, the X-rays will be reviewed again Monday. Neither jockey will remain in the hospital overnight and the advocate said Amaro hopes to be riding again by Wednesday, while Pedroza plans to take at least two weeks off. 

Jockeys Abel Lezcano and Nazario Alvarado, also involved in the spill, walked off the track and were not hospitalized.

In the race, a six-furlong maiden claiming event on the inner track for 3-year-old New York state-bred horses, Honor Ernesto (#8) fell while leading the field on the far turn, unseating Amaro. Trinity Warrior (#7), ridden by Lezcano, Soft Parade (#3), ridden by Alvarado, and Rightuplynn’salley (#9), ridden by Pedroza, unseated their jockeys while trying to avoid the fallen horse.

Trinity Warrior, a colt, and Soft Parade and Rightuplynn’salley, both geldings, appeared to be uninjured.  Honor Ernesto, a gelding, suffered fractures in both front legs and had to be euthanized.