Lopez Returns to Saddle After Shoulder Injury

Jockey Paco Lopez, who injured his left shoulder in a one-horse spill at Meadowlands Oct. 15, is booked to return to action the evening of Oct. 23. An eight-time leading rider at Monmouth Park, Lopez has two mounts, including on the Chad Brown-trained Infinite Potential in the one-mile feature, a first-level allowance with a $45,000 purse. That race is the fifth of six races on the card. With 281 victories on the year, Lopez is two shy of his annual-best set in 2019. After the spill last week, Lopez was evaluated by first aid at the track, and informed track personnel that his shoulder had "popped out." He was briefly hospitalized and later saw a specialist. A 4-year-old daughter of Invincible Spirit (IRE), Infinite Potential will look to become a two-time winner at the Monmouth-at-Meadowlands meet after breaking her maiden on Oct. 1 with a neck victory at 1 1/16 miles on the grass. Bred in Ireland, Infinite Potential is owned by Klaravich Stables and is the 2-1 favorite. Brown has also entered Bleecker Street, a 3-year-old filly who won at first asking on Aug. 21 at Monmouth Park at 1 1/16 miles on turf. The daughter of Quality Road, owned by Peter Brant, has not raced since. Hector Diaz Jr. rides. Lopez also has rides at Parx Racing in cards already drawn from Oct. 25-27.