The agent for jockey Ramon Dominguez says doctors are optimistic the nation's leading rider will fully recover from a fractured skull.
Steve Rushing said he spoke Jan. 19 with Dominguez's wife, Sharon, who told him the jockey is doing much better after going down in a spill a day earlier at Aqueduct Racetrack.
"It's a slightly displaced skull fracture and he's going to have more tests, but the doctors are optimistic he'll make a full recovery,'" Rushing told the Associated Press.
There is no timetable for Dominguez to be released from Jamaica Hospital Medical Center or when he might ride again.
Dominguez was aboard 4-5 favorite Convocation, who was behind horses when the field of claiming horses moved to the top of the stretch in the seventh race Jan. 18. Convocation clipped heels with Sovereign Default and fell, throwing Dominguez to the inner dirt course.
The jockey was taken from the track by ambulance to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition. Convocation, trained by Todd Pletcher, appeared to be uninjured and was walked off the track.
Dominguez has been the nation's leading rider the past two years and is a finalist for his third Eclipse Award as the nation's leading rider, the results of which will be announced Jan. 19 at Gulfstream Park. He is second in the inner track jockey standings with 31 victories to apprentice Jose Ortiz's 34 wins. Dominguez led all riders on the New York circuit in 2012 with 322 victories and led the nation in earnings with $25.6 million.