OCEANPORT, N.J. – Jockey Heriberto Figueroa, injured in a spill at Monmouth Park last Sunday, will resume riding at the track during Friday’s card, with Tomas Mejia, involved in the same spill, likely to be out at least one more week while he recovers, according to the agents of both riders.
Figueroa is listed to ride Grand Union in the fourth race on Monmouth Park’s Friday card.
“He’s doing fine and ready to ride again,” said John Salamone, Figueroa’s agent. “He’s 100 percent.”
Mejia’s return will likely be delayed another week, according to agent Robert Tuccille.
“He is feeling a lot better, but we’re going to take the safe approach and not rush back so he will not ride this weekend,” said Tuccille. “He’s just sore, so we’ll give it another week. The plan is for him to resume riding next weekend.”
Both riders were transported by ambulance to Monmouth Medical Center following the spill in Sunday’s fifth race. Both were released later that night.
The incident occurred when Mejia’s mount, Service With Honor, appeared to clip heels with a tiring One More Nightcap coming out of final turn of the mile and a sixteenth starter allowance on the grass, with Mejia slamming into the turf. Figueroa, aboard Rose for a Saint, went down trying to avoid Service With Honor.
Meija is currently eighth in the rider standings at Monmouth Park with 16 winners. Figueroa, in his first summer riding at the track, has five winners so far.
Monmouth Press Release
Photo: Heriberto Figueroa (Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO)
