Journeymen Victor Carrasco and Kevin Gomez will each miss time following a spill in the first race on Friday's Maryland Million eve program at Laurel Park.
Carrasco, 30, suffered a dislocated thumb according to his agent, Scotty Silver. He was hurt when his horse, 3-year-old colt Hooky Player, fell approaching the wire while rallying into second in the 1 1/8-mile turf claimer. Hooky Player, racing for Colts Neck Stable and trainer Jorge Duarte Jr., was euthanized.
“He got very lucky,” Silver said. “We don't have a timetable yet or anything like that. We'll know more on Tuesday when he goes to the specialist.”
A winner of nearly 1,200 career races who was voted the 2013 Eclipse Award as champion apprentice, Carrasco was named in seven of the eight stakes and four starter stakes that comprised Saturday's 37th Jim McKay Maryland Million Day program.
One of his mounts, R. Larry Johnson and RDM Racing Stable's Sky's Not Falling, captured the $100,000 Turf Sprint with jockey Paco Lopez aboard. Carrasco is the fifth-leading rider with 61 wins in Maryland this year.
“He's as good as he can be. It's tough to get hurt the day before Maryland Million Day,” Silver said. “It's not catastrophic but he'll be out for a little bit. We'll see.”
Agent Frank Douglas said the 28-year-old Gomez was injured after being unseated when his horse, 4-year-old gelding Casamo, tripped over the fallen Hooky Player.
“He fractured his collarbone, so they're talking about six to eight weeks,” Douglas said.
Gomez, a finalist for the 2016 Eclipse Award as champion apprentice, and Carrasco were at Laurel Park for Maryland Million Day. Gomez was replaced on his eight mounts including NRS Stable, James Chambers and Avalon Farm's Coconut Cake, winner of the $125,000 Ladies under Sheldon Russell.
After the race, Russell pledged to give 50 percent of his share of the winner's $68,750 purse to Gomez.
“He's good. He's very positive,” Douglas said of Gomez. “He was walking around and he brought some family with him. He had a good time. He goes to the doctor next week and we'll see what happens.”
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