Jockeys David Flores and Jose Valdivia Jr. were hospitalized following three separate spills at Hollywood Park on Sunday. Valdivia's accident occurred in the Cinema Breeders' Cup Handicap (g. III) when his horse, the Mark Glatt-trained New Joysey Jeff, ducked away from left-handed urging and unseated the rider while rallying in mid-stretch. The jockey was removed from the track via stretcher and taken directly to Centinela Hospital in Inglewood with a broken collarbone. He will be out indefinitely but is expected to return to action at Del Mar. His mount was uninjured.
Flores' accident occurred in the fifth race – a 5 1/2 -furlong optional claimer for fillies – when his mount, the Robert Hess Jr.-trained Bruisen Susan, clipped heels and tossed her rider. Flores landed on his tailbone, was carried from the scene of the accident by stretcher and complained of lower back pain at the track's first aid station. He was taken to Centinela for precautionary x-rays, but was released and is expected to return to ride Thursday, according to agent Brad Pegram. His mount was not injured in the incident."He was trying to ride his mount in the stake (Obrigado in the Cinema), but the first aid doctors wanted him to get the x-rays done," Pegram said. "We don't race until Thursday because of the upcoming holidays, so he'll have the dark days off and he'll be all set to go by then."Following Flores' spill, jockey Kerwin John was thrown when his horse broke down past the wire after finishing 10th in the sixth race on the card. John walked away from the accident and was uninjured, but his mount – the John Sherreffs-trained Valetto – was euthanized after suffering a broken left foreleg.