The 5-year-old mare Be Driven broke her left front fetlock entering
the far turn during the running of the 9th race at Del Mar Sunday and
the resulting attempt to pull her up caused two horses behind her to
fall in the six-furlong sprint.
Rider Victor Espinoza on Be Driven attempted to pull up his injured
horse, but in the process rider Martin Pedroza on Bonita Montana clipped
her heels and stumbled and fell. Rider Joel Rosario on trailing Katy’s
Kitty attempted to jump over the fallen Bonita Montana, but his horse
stumbled and went down also.
Be Driven had to be euthanized due to her injuries. Espinoza, who
either fell or jumped off his mount, was initially examined at the
track’s First Aid room, but then removed to nearby Scripps Encinitas
Hospital for X-rays of a possible ankle injury.
Pedroza and Rosario returned to the Jockeys Room and appeared to have
suffered no injuries. Track veterinarians reported the same for the
other two horses involved in the incident.
The race was a $16,000 claiming event for fillies and mares, aged 3
and up. There were 12 runners in the sprint, which was won by Lady
Lazer.
The race was the final one on day five of the first full week of racing at the 2011 Del Mar meeting.