Jockey John Velazquez remains hospitalized after falling off his horse during a Breeders' Cup race Saturday.
Horses and jockeys were on the move Sunday returning to their home bases after the two-day Breeders' Cup races at Santa Anita, but Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez remained at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena after having his spleen removed following a spill Saturday during the Juvenile Fillies.
He was listed in serious but stable condition in the critical care unit. Agent Angel Cordero Jr. told the Daily Racing Form that Velazquez is expected to be hospitalized four to five days and won't ride again in 2013.
Jockey Gary Stevens learned he will have to serve a three-day suspension handed down by the Santa Anita stewards after his horse, She's A Tiger, was disqualified and placed second for drifting out in the Juvenile Fillies. His suspension will begin Saturday.
Final statistics from the two-day Breeders' Cup showed an 11% increase in the betting pool from 2012, with $160,704,877 wagered. Attendance on Saturday was 58,795, bringing the two-day total to 94,628, a 5% increase over last year's total of 89,742. Santa Anita will play host to the Breeders' Cup for the third consecutive year in 2014.
West Coast fans may have found their top Kentucky Derby hopeful earlier in the week. On Thursday, in a maiden special race for 2-year-olds at 11/16 miles, the highly regarded Kristo won by 63/4 lengths in 1:43.30. That was a faster time than New Year's Day ran in winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Saturday.
"He was very impressive," trainer John Sadler said of Kristo, a son of Distorted Humor who was a $500,000 yearling purchase. "We really like him."
Sadler said the plan is to put Kristo on a path to the Kentucky Derby.
Rafael Bejarano won the riding title for the 24-day autumn meeting and Bob Baffert won the training title.
Racing moves to Betfair Hollywood Park on Thursday. The Inglewood track will have its final 27-day autumn meeting through Dec. 22, then close its doors for good.