New York-based jockey Junior Alvarado was reported to be in good condition after being thrown from his mount, Pete's Parley, in the second race at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 20.
Pete's Parley, a 5-year-old son of Freud , fractured both sesamoids in his left foreleg as he stumbled near the eighth pole. It was later reported by New York Racing Association officials that the horse had been euthanized due to the extent of his injuries.
Alvarado, a 26-year-old native of Venezuela, began the day as the fifth-leading rider at the meet.
"I'm definitely lucky," Alvarado told the Albany Times Union Aug. 20.
Alvarado was taken to Saratoga Hospital and underwent precautionary X-rays due to pain in his lower right abdomen. The jockey returned to the track less than two hours later, however, and according to agent Mike Sellitto is cleared to ride at the Spa Aug. 22. Alvarado was taken off the rest of his mounts Aug. 20.
"Maybe tomorrow some bruises, maybe a little sore, I'm pretty sure," Alvarado told the Times Union. "But I'm pretty good right now."
"Right when they picked me up and put me in the ambulance, I kind of felt a sharp pain right there," said Alvarado, who is booked to ride Fast Falcon in the Aug. 25 Travers Stakes (gr. I). "It was for a couple seconds, then it goes away, and I didn't feel it anymore. I get to the hospital, they checked that area right there, and I didn't feel any pain."
Pete's Parley was owned by Matties Racing and trained by Greg Matties, who acquired the horse for $15,000 in a claiming race at Belmont Park in July.
Bred in New York by P. Hanks, D. Hanks, J. McDermott, L. McDermott, and C. McDermott, Pete's Parley is out of the Turkoman mare Clever Turk.
During his career, Pete's Parley compiled a record of 4-2-5 from 20 starts for earnings of $138,200.
According to NYRA officials, Pete's Parley is first main track fatality of the meet and the third overall.