Jockey Jesus Castanon, who broke his left hand in a fall at Churchill Downs in the 10th race May 18, will miss all of his scheduled mounts for the remainder of the weekend.
Castanon was unseated when his mount, Ashbrook Farm’s favored Southern Parkway, stumbled leaving the starting gate in the 1 1/16-mile race on the Matt Winn Turf Course. Agent Dennis Cooper confirmed May 19 that 39-year-old native of Mexico City would be taken off all of his scheduled weekend mounts.
“He’s going to a specialist later today,” Cooper said. “We’ll know more about how much time he’ll miss then. He won’t ride this weekend, but I don’t know about next week yet. The main hope right now is that he’ll be fine to ride in the Met Mile.”
The Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I), also known as the Met Mile, will be run at Belmont Park on Memorial Day, May 28. Castanon is scheduled to ride Mike Lauffer and Bill Cubbedge’s Shackleford, who won the Preakness (gr. I) under Castanon last year. In his most recent start, Shackleford won the Churchill Downs Stakes (gr. II) on the Kentucky Derby Day undercard.
Castanon has ridden 252 winners beneath the Twin Spires, including three through the first 12 days of the spring meet.
Jesus Castanon
Dave Harmon