Luzzi Off Mounts After Late Hospital Release

(from Aqueduct report)
Jockey Mike Luzzi was forced to take off his mounts at Aqueduct Saturday when his release from nearby North Shore University Hospital was delayed.

Luzzi was unseated from his mount, Manchurian, in Friday's third race and taken to North Shore for observation and examination of his back.

"I couldn't get out of there," said Luzzi, who arrived at the jockeys' room only to be informed he had been taken off his six scheduled mounts. "They did a CAT scan and found something in my spleen that they determined was either an old injury or maybe even something I was born with. I was supposed to be released first thing in the morning, but they didn't get me out of there until around 11:30.

"I'm a little sore, but I will be back to ride on Sunday."

Manchurian, who won the Stymie Handicap earlier this year, suffered fractures of both right-front sesamoids and was euthanized.