Apprentice Rider Oritz Injured at Belmont

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Apprentice rider Irad Ortiz Jr. suffered a possible head injury after being thrown from his mount, Freud's Debut, in the ninth race at Belmont Park May 28. The jockey was taken to North Shore University Hospital.

In the race, a 1 1/16-mile maiden claimer on the Widener turf course, Freud’s Debut stumbled and fell shortly after the start of the race, unseating his rider.

Ortiz needed to be taken off the course on a stretcher by emergency technicians, but was reported to be conscious and in stable condition.

The jockey's spill came the day after Ramon Dominguez was involved in an accident on the turf at Belmont. Dominguez took off his nine mounts May 28 due to stiffness in his neck.

Ortiz, Jr., 18, won 75 races in his native Puerto Rico this year before coming to ride at Belmont Park, where he has two wins since the meet began in late April.

Freud’s Debut, a 3-year-old son of Freud   trained by Mark Hennig, appeared uninjured in the spill.

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