Javier Castellano will sit out the rest of Saratoga’s opening weekend after being taken to hospital following a four-horse fall in Friday’s Wild Applause Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
The Hall of Fame jockey was aboard Paris Carver when a chain reaction unfolded at the top of the stretch after I Love Giraffes, ridden by Paco Lopez, stumbled and fell. Lovely Grey, Paris Carver and Smexy were then brought down, unseating Dylan Davis, Castellano and Tyler Gaffalione.
Davis, Lopez and Gaffalione walked away, while Castellano was stretchered off and later sent to Saratoga Hospital for checks. According to the Times Union report from Saratoga, NYRA said via Castellano’s agent Kevin Meyocks that he was released “in good order”, will take the weekend off and is due to see a specialist on Monday.
Wild Applause Stakes Fall Pauses Castellano’s Saratoga Start
The incident came in the first stakes race of the 2026 Saratoga summer meet, making it an immediate welfare and rider-safety flashpoint on one of American racing’s biggest weekends.
All four horses were reported to have returned to their barns and appeared to be OK, while Lovely Grey was taken back in the equine ambulance as a precaution. To a Flame, ridden by Jose Ortiz for Rusty Arnold, won the Wild Applause Stakes after the fall.
Castellano’s absence removes one of Saratoga’s most experienced riders from the July 4 weekend card, though the early update leaves open a possible return next week if Monday’s specialist review is clear.
