Jockey Dylan Davis suffered a broken collarbone and will be out six to eight weeks according to his agent Mike Migliore, as the result of a spill in Saturday’s final race at Aqueduct.
Another rider, Jorge Vargas Jr., was awaiting the results of X-rays on his back. A third rider, Nik Juarez, escaped serious injury.
Davis was aboard Tellaperfecttale when that horse fell over Kiss Me Dave, who, ridden by Vargas, broke down entering the far turn of the six-furlong race for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies. Davis was unseated and hit the ground hard. Though he sat up for several minutes, Davis was removed from the track on a backboard, placed in an ambulance and transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
Vargas, who also hit the ground hard, was removed on a backboard and transported by ambulance to the same hospital. He was being evaluated for back pain.
Juarez was unseated when his mount, Maybe I Know, made an abrupt move to avoid the fallen horses and riders. Juarez got up almost immediately Maybe I Know, who did not fall, finished the race riderless before being caught by an outrider. He appeared to escape injury.
Kiss Me Dave died on track and was not euthanized. Tellaperfecttale jogged back to the paddock with an outrider and upon initial inspection, seems to be fine, according to a Tweet from Maggie Wolfendale, a NYRA analyst and the wife of Tom Morley, the trainer of Tellaperfecttale.
Davis had won two races earlier on the card including the $100,000 Cicada Stakes aboard Just Read It. Davis ranked fourth in the Aqueduct winter meet jockey standings in both races won (44) and purse earnings ($2,679,155). He was named to ride in seven of Sunday’s eight races.
Vargas, who missed Friday’s card due to illness, returned to ride five mounts Saturday, winning the sixth race on Moonachie.
Vargas, who is named on four horses Sunday, is tied for sixth in wins at the meet with 28.