Report: Geovanni Franco may miss rest of Del Mar after injury

HRN staff
Photo: Alex Evers / Eclipse Sportswire

Jockey Geovanni Franco might be out for the rest of the meet at Del Mar after suffering a cracked shoulder and a knee injury in a spill last Friday.

His agent, Jack Carava, informed Del Mar track publicity of Franco likely being out, according to a report by Byron King of BloodHorse. The extent of Franco's knee injury is not yet known but he is expected to get an MRI scan in the coming days.

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Racing in a 1 3/8-mile turf allowance, Franco was unseated near the three-eighths pole while riding Smooth Salute along the inside. That happened as a result of Zalamo coming in on Lahaina Flavor, who in turn bumped Smooth Salute into the rail.

Stewards disqualified Zalamo from eighth to last for coming in. As a result of that incident Jeremy Laprida, rider of Zalamo, has been suspended for seven racing days, from Saturday through Aug. 15, for careless riding.

Franco has won twice at the current Del Mar meet, most recently with Big Mama Sue in a claiming-level turf mile last Friday.

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