Espinoza Returns to the Saddle Monday

Victor Espinoza celebrates aboard American Pharoah | Coady

After nearly a seven-month absence, Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza will return to the saddle Monday at Santa Anita. He's been named to ride Gallantlystreaming (Ire) in the first race for Hronis Racing, LLC and trainer John Sadler. The 46-year-old has been sidelined due to a fractured vertebra in his neck which was sustained in a morning workout at Del Mar July 22.

“At first, I thought I was done, I really did,” Espinoza said. “At that point, I was thinking this is it, that my health has to come first and I was thinking about, 'What am I going to do with my life?' But about three months ago, it kind of happened overnight. I started feeling better and I felt like I could make it back. I'm ready. It's good for me to know that I'm 100% and I can come back now and do my job.”

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