Jockey Jose Ortiz, who was unseated at the finish line of the first race at Saratoga Race Course July 21, appears to have bruised ribs, according to his agent, Steve Rushing.
"That's what it looks like right now," Rushing said early in the evening of July 21. "He's a little banged up."
Ortiz was riding Same Old Fears when he went down at the end of the race, which was originally scheduled for 5 1/2 furlongs on the Mellon Turf Course, but was moved to the main track at the same distance after overnight rains. Ortiz, on the ground, was attended to in the grassy area next to the finish line at the finish line for several minutes.
He rose and walked under his own power—albeit unsteadily—to an ambulance on the main track and was taken to Albany Medical Center about 30 miles away. He was holding his right side.
Rushing said that Ortiz was not going to be admitted to Albany Med and was waiting to be released. Asked when Ortiz might return to ride, Rushing said it would be "day-to-day."
Same Old Fears, owned and trained by Wesley Ward, went to the ground and did get up. The 2-year-old filly, who as making her first career start, was caught by an outrider and appeared to be unhurt. However, she was vanned off.
Ortiz was taken off his remaining mounts on the July 21 card.
Same Old Fears was awarded fourth place in the race.
