Baze Cracks Rib in Chain Reaction Spill

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(from Golden Gate Fields report)
Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze, all-time leading rider by victories, sustained a cracked rib when he went down at Golden Gate Fields a race prior to the California Derby.
    
Baze, who missed his scheduled ride on Cal Derby winner Bwana Bull as a result of the fall, was one of four jockeys to hit the track in the eighth-race spill, which occurred when American Ivy, who was moving to the lead on the far turn under Jason Lumpkins, fractured her right front cannon bone and fell.
 
Claire Simoff, ridden by Jorge Ayarza, fell over American Ivy at the three-eighths pole. Kendrick's Patsy, ridden by Martin Garcia, also tripped over American Ivy and fell. Ivy League Genius, with Baze aboard, couldn't avoid the fallen Kendrick's Patsy and went down.

American Ivy had to be euthanized.  Claire Simoff, Kendrick's Patsy and Ivy League Genius were not injured. The chain reaction eliminated half of the eight-horse field.
 
Baze and Ayarza, who fractured his right index finger and a bone in his left wrist, were the only jockeys to suffer injuries in the spill.  
    
Golden Gate Fields track physician Dr. David Seftel said Baze "could be back in a week." Ayarza, he said, would likely be sidelined "two to three weeks."

Baze has 9,590 victories through Jan. 28.

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