By Bloodhorse.com
ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 22, 2016) — Jockey Santiago Gonzalez will be sidelined for six weeks because of a broken jaw, agent Craig Stephen said March 21.
Gonzalez sustained the injury March 20 at Santa Anita Park, where he fell off Follini in the fifth race after the Western Fame gelding stumbled in the turn during the six-furlong claiming race. Gonzalez appeared to fall right into the path of two horses, but Stephen said he was unsure whether the jockey was struck by one of the trailing runners.
Follini, owned by William Branch, Cory Wagner, and trainer Mark Glatt, appeared to emerge from the incident unharmed and was corralled by a Santa Anita outrider. Gonzalez was immediately transported to Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, Calif., where he was treated for his injuries.
Gonzalez is second in Santa Anita’s jockey standings, with a 47-34-33 record from 269 mounts and nearly $1.9 million in purse earnings during the meet that began in late December. He only trails perennial leading jockey Rafael Bejarano (60 wins) and was seven victories clear of third-place Flavien Prat (40 wins).