Javier Castellano was sent for precautionary checks after a four-horse spill in Friday’s Wild Applause Stakes at Saratoga, where I Love Giraffes fell on the far turn and triggered a chain reaction involving Paris Carver, Smexy and Lovely Grey.
The opening-day incident came as the field turned for home in the restricted Listed $150,000 contest for three-year-old fillies. I Love Giraffes, ridden by Paco Lopez, appeared to stumble before Paris Carver, the mount of Castellano, and the Tyler Gaffalione-ridden Smexy and Dylan Davis-ridden Lovely Grey were unable to avoid the fallout.
Castellano Taken For Further Evaluation
Lopez, Gaffalione and Davis all walked off the course under their own power, while Hall of Famer Castellano was taken from the track by ambulance before being transported to Saratoga Hospital for evaluation and X-rays, Thoroughbred Daily News reported.
NYRA’s race recap said Castellano was awake, alert and had movement in all extremities. Lopez was later cleared to ride and returned quickly to win the Schuylerville Stakes aboard Harper’s Corner, while Davis took off his remaining mounts as a precaution.
The horses were also recovered. Smexy, Paris Carver and I Love Giraffes walked off the course, with Lovely Grey taken back to the barn area by equine ambulance and subsequently reported to be in good order. To a Flame, trained by Rusty Arnold and ridden by Jose Ortiz, won the Wild Applause after a stewards’ inquiry left the result unchanged.
