NEW YORK (AP) — Jockey John Velazquez was removed from the track on a stretcher one day after winning the $1 million Wood Memorial aboard undefeated Verrazano.
Velazquez was dumped in the seventh race at the Aqueduct on Sunday. His mount, Katie Malone, stumbled after running up the heels of a rival. Velazquez was taken to a hospital for evaluation of his right shoulder.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Velazquez. He is the regular rider of Verrazano and Orb, two of the leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby on May 4.
