Apprentice jockey Ryan Curatolo, who fell from his mount during the post parade for the first race June 19 at Belmont Park, was examined and released from North Shore University Hospital. Curatolo said he expects to ride as scheduled when racing resumes June 22.
The 19-year-old rider forfeited his mounts for the rest of the day after being unseated by Brolio as they made their way to the gate for a $10,000 claiming race at one mile. Taken by ambulance to the hospital, he returned to the jockeys' room at Belmont shortly after 4 p.m. EDT following negative X-rays.
“I had an exam and everything is OK inside,” Curatolo said. “In two days I think I’ll be OK. (Monday) there is no racing, Tuesday no racing; just today I lost a winner because in the second race (my mount won). But, it could be much worse. You have 365 days to win races, so if you lose one day, there are many more.”
A native of France, Curatolo picked up the first stakes win of his career June 18 at Belmont when he piloted Street Game to victory in the Hill Prince (gr. IIIT). Curatolo has 26 winners from 176 mounts since the Belmont spring/summer meet opened April 29, good for fifth place in the NYRA jockey standings through the conclusion of racing June 19.