Velazquez has fractured shoulder blade, two cracked ribs

Jockey John Velazquez sustained a fractured right shoulder blade and two

cracked ribs in a spill at Keeneland on Thursday, The Blood-Horse

reports. The two-time Eclipse Award-winning rider was injured when his mount, UP

AN OCTAVE (Brahms), broke down shortly after winning

the Forerunner S.

The 34-year-old native of Puerto Rico was released from the University of

Kentucky Chandler Medical Center on Friday but could be sidelined up to five

months and will not be able to ride BLUEGRASS CAT (Storm Cat) for trainer Todd

Pletcher in the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1).

In addition to his shoulder and chest injuries, Velazquez bruised his sternum

and has a slight injury to his right lung.

Through

Thursday, Velazquez was tied with apprentice jockey Julien Leparoux atop the

Keeneland leading rider standings. Each had won 12 races.

Vinery Stables' Up an Octave, trained by Pletcher, was euthanized after

suffering a compound fracture in his left foreleg. The three-year-old colt, out

of Afleet Change (Time for a Change), earned $184,672 from a record of 7-3-1-1.