Albarado Hurts Wrist, Lanerie Out at Churchill

(from Churchill Downs notes)
Robby Albarado sustained a wrist injury that will keep him out of action for several weeks and Corey Lanerie suffered a badly bruised thigh that will keep him out of the saddle for at least Sunday's mounts on a tough day for jockeys at Churchill Downs Saturday.

Albarado was injured in a freak mishap in the paddock as he was attempting to climb into the saddle aboard his mount in the first race.

Lanerie escaped serious injury in a frightening fall aboard Grunwald Racing's Sweet Jo Jo in deep stretch in the $100,000-added Pocahontas Stakes later in the day.

Agent Lenny Pike said the injury to Albarado's right wrist will probably keep him out of action for "three to four weeks," which would mean he would not return before the fall Churchill Downs meeting ends on Nov. 29. He said a specialist will examine Albarado's wrist on Tuesday, but the injury would not require surgery.

Albarado was injured on his first day back in the saddle after a bout with kidney stones that had forced him to miss two days of racing.

"He felt like a million dollars and was ready to roll," said Pike.

Meanwhile, agent Rick Mocklin said that Lanerie had a large bruise just above his right knee and was body sore, but suffered no other injuries when he was thrown by Sweet Jo Jo, who broke down while leading the field through the stretch in the one-mile Pocahontas. Lanerie was taken to Caritas Medical Center for treatment after the spill.

Mocklin said Lanerie would not ride on Sunday at the very least. His next opportunity to ride at Churchill Downs would come on Tuesday's special Election Day race card.

Sweet Jo Jo was euthanized after she suffered a severe condylar fracture of her right front cannon bone. The 2-year-old daughter of Grand Slam, winner of the Anna M. Fisher Debutante at Ellis Park for trainer Steve Asmussen, had won three of six starts going into the Pocahontas.

"I'm just sorry for the filly," said Asmussen.