"We gave them a good look over after the race," said NYRA's Chief Examining Veterinarian Dr. Celeste Kunz this morning. "Valatie had a little grass in his ear, but other than that they were fine. They were more shocked than anything else."
(Edited NYRA report)Jockey Luis Chavez, one of three jockeys involved in a spill in yesterday's ninth race at Belmont Park, suffered a broken right collarbone and a cut right hand. Chavez was released last night but received "about 10 stitches," according to Braulio Baeza, NYRA's Assistant Clerk of Scales. It is uncertain how long he will be out of action.The incident occurred as the field was coming out of the far turn and into the stretch in a New York-bred maiden race on the Widener Turf Course. Midnight Summit, ridden by Chavez, clipped heels with Affliction and started a chain reaction that also felled Valatie and jockey Javier Castellano along with A.P. Junior and apprentice jockey Shannon Uske. Uske was also taken to North Shore University Hospital after complaining of abdominal pain, but was released last night, according to her agent, Ralph Theroux Jr. "She's just beat up," said Theroux of the 17-year-old jockey. "They did a CAT scan, internal sonogram and x-rays and everything came back negative. She's pretty sore. She'll probably be out three, four or five days."Castellano, the third rider involved, walked off the track uninjured. Castellano is listed to ride in four races on today's card at Belmont Park. The three horses were quickly captured by outriders and appeared uninjured.