Leading Jockey Carrasco Out of Action This Week
Leading Jockey Carrasco Out of Action This Week
LAUREL, MD – Jockey Victor Carrasco, who leads Laurel Park’s summer meet in both wins and purses earned, will be out of action through the weekend with a foot injury, agent Tom Stift said.
Carrasco, 24, was hurt when his mount, 2-year-old colt O Dionysus making his first career start, dumped him as horses were heading out to the track from the paddock for Sunday’s fourth race.
O Dionysus was caught and scratched from the race, and Carrasco took off his final two mounts Sunday as well as out-of-town engagements in Delaware and Pennsylvania Monday through Thursday. He was named in six of nine races for Laurel’s twilight Friday program.
“He got thrown in the post parade and the horse came down on top of his foot,” Stift said. “His foot’s swollen but his ankle looks good. They didn’t see any fractures, and they put him in a boot instead of a cast. There’s so many small bones in the foot that they’re going to X-ray it again on Friday and see how it is. We’re going to be out this weekend and then decide on Friday what we’re doing.”
Second to Trevor McCarthy at Laurel’s winter-spring meet and the Preakness Meet at Pimlico earlier this year, Carrasco leads the 24-day summer stand with 19 victories and $565,895 in purse earnings. Feargal Lynch is second with 18 wins and $522,146 in purses earned and Jevian Toldeo ranks third (17 wins, $473,912).
Stift said Carrasco, the Eclipse Award-winning apprentice of 2013, remains upbeat and positive. He finished as Maryland’s second-leading rider in number of wins in 2014 and 2015.
“Anytime it’s something small like this you’re just thankful that it wasn’t worse,” Stift said. “He’s got so many trainers and owners and jockeys and everybody calling, so that kind of keeps you up. I think it helps when you’ve got so many people supporting you and checking on you.”
