Jockey Edgar Prado has been given medical clearance to ride and will take his recovery from a broken ankle to the next level when he gets on horses the morning of Oct. 13, said his agent, Bob Frieze.
“The doctor gave him clearance yesterday and told him he could get on horses,” Frieze said Oct. 12. ‘We were going to get on and see where he was at today, but it was pretty muddy. He’s just going to get on a pony and ride around and see how it goes. He’s been in therapy, so we’ll see how he does over the next few days.”
Prado fractured his ankle in a Sept. 1 racing accident at Saratoga, when he was thrown from his mount as he was galloping out around the clubhouse turn. He began physical therapy Sept. 28 and was hoping to get back on horses within two weeks. Although the recovery process took a few extra days, doctors are pleased with the jockey’s progress.
“Right now we’re just concerned with the flexibility of the ankle; he’s gotta put more pressure on it now, which he hasn’t really been able to do because he hasn’t been riding,” Frieze said. “Over the next couple of days, if all goes well, he’ll work a few horses, and if the foot doesn’t swell up too much and can handle the pressure, we’ll go forward. If not, we won’t.”
Frieze said trainers are awaiting word on whether Prado will ride in the Oct. 26-27 Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Monmouth Park.
“It depends on if we get back soon enough,” he said. “There’s a couple out there waiting, but it depends on how he heals up. Within the next few days we’ll know.”
An Eclipse Award winner, Prado rode Round Pond to victory in the Emirates Airlines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (gr. I) last year after winning the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) aboard Barbaro. In 2005, he was aboard Folklore to win the Gray Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), and he also piloted Silver Train to victory in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I).
