DIAZ SUFFERS DISLOCATED SHOULDER; HOPES TO RETURN BEFORE MEET’S END

By Mike Henry —-

DIAZ SUFFERS DISLOCATED SHOULDER; HOPES TO RETURN BEFORE MEET’S END

OLDSMAR, FL. – Tampa Bay Downs jockey Hector Rafael Diaz, Jr., suffered a dislocated left shoulder Friday when he was unseated in the stretch run of the seventh race on the turf after his mount, 3-year-old filly Hidden Recipe, clipped heels with Mia Vita.
Hidden Recipe finished the course riderless. Trainer Tim Hamm, who also owns the filly under his Blazing Meadows Farm banner, reported today that she came out of the race in good condition. “Thank goodness, she is fine. She looks good and ate up well,” Hamm said.
Mia Vita, who was ridden by Samy Camacho, finished third behind winner Whirlwind and runner-up Lizzie Baby but was disqualified and placed last by the stewards for coming in and causing Hidden Recipe to clip heels.
The 35-year-old Diaz went to a hospital after the race and had his shoulder put back into place. He was still sore today but said he is in much less pain than he was Friday night.
“I’m going to see an orthopedic specialist Monday” to get an opinion when he can return to riding, Diaz said. “I know it’s part of the business, and I feel grateful because it could have been worse. All I’m thinking of now is recovering as quick as possible.”
The Tampa Bay Downs stewards issued an eight-day suspension to Camacho for careless riding for the incident. He will begin serving it at the start of next season’s meet, since he is set to begin a five-day suspension on Sunday, April 27 for a previous careless riding infraction. His agent, Mike Moran, said Camacho plans to ride here Wednesday, Friday and next Saturday.
Tampa Bay Downs will require Diaz to get a medical release before allowing him to resume riding. He said he has not ruled out returning before the final day of the season on May 4. He is eighth in the track standings with 30 victories.
Camacho, who has won four consecutive Oldsmar riding titles, rode three winners today. He scored in the fourth race on 5-year-old mare Calisue for owner-trainer Joel Campbell and added the sixth on Old Town Road, a 6-year-old gelding owned and trained by Juan Arriagada. Camacho next won the eighth race aboard Gucci Boy, a 5-year-old gelding owned by Amaty Racing Stables and trained by Victor Carrasco, Jr.
Camacho trails Samuel Marin 103-96 in this season’s standings.
Tampa Bay Downs will take a three-day break from racing beginning Sunday, when the track will be closed in its entirety to allow horsewomen, horsemen, employees and patrons to celebrate the Easter holiday.
The track will reopen Monday for simulcast wagering, no-limits action and tournament play in The Silks Poker Room and golf fun and instruction at The Downs Golf Practice Facility. Thoroughbred racing will resume Wednesday with a nine-race card beginning at 12:20 p.m.
On the improve. In today’s first race, a starter/$32,000 optional claiming affair for 3-year-old fillies, Miss Interpatation continued her climb up the class ladder with a gutsy neck victory from Securitylightning, with Unbridled Peace a length-and-a-half back in third. Miss Interpatation, who was ridden by Sara Hess, posted a time of 1:17.94 for the 6 ½-furlong distance.
It was the third consecutive victory for Miss Interpatation since being claimed from her career debut here, a seventh-place finish on Jan. 3, by trainer Leslielyn Hardesty for the Happy Tenth Stable of Clearwater resident Tom Lamont. Her first win came on Feb. 28 in a $16,000 maiden claiming race, followed by a $20,000 claiming victory on March 16 and today’s triumph.
Sara Hess also won the ninth race on the turf on 18-1 shot Eddie the Great, a 6-year-old gelding owned by Ralph E. Whitney and trained by Donald F. Hunt.
Juan Arriagada saddled two winners today. In addition to his victory with Old Town Road, he won the second race with Atomic Habits, a 3-year-old filly he campaigned in partnership with Ashley Castrenze. Ademar Santos was the rider. Atomic Habits was claimed from the race for $25,000 by new owner-trainer Martin Escobar.
Belouni, a 5-year-old gelding trained by Chad Brown, staged a determined rally to win today’s featured third race on the turf by a half-length from another Brown-trained horse, Exact Estimate. The third was contested as the Lambholm South Race of the Week.
The French-bred Belouni is owned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Michael E. Kisber, William J. Rucker and Michael J. Caruso. He was ridden by Antonio Gallardo. Belouni, who improved to 5-for-14 lifetime, won the Woodhaven Stakes at Aqueduct as a 3-year-old. Today’s 1-mile victory was achieved in a time of 1:35.02.