Julian Pimentel to miss time with injury

by | Apr 16, 2017 | Breaking, Maryland, MD Racing, Racing

Julian Pimentel aboard Ben's Cat after the 2013 Fabulous Strike. Photo by B & D Photography.

Julian Pimentel aboard Ben’s Cat after the 2013 Fabulous Strike. Photo by B & D Photography.

From a Maryland Jockey Club release

Jockey Julian Pimentel, ranked among the leading riders at Laurel’s current winter-sprint meet, will miss the next four to six weeks with two broken toes, agent Roniel Gerardo said Sunday.

Pimentel was injured when he was thrown from his mount, 3-year-old filly Quick Witted, while waiting to load for Saturday’s 10th race finale at Laurel, a $40,000 maiden special weight on the Kelso Turf Course. Trained by Hamilton Smith and making her second lifetime start, Quick Witted was a late scratch.

“I believe he got stepped on. It happened so fast,” Gerardo said. “It’s unfortunate it happened because he was doing good, but the main thing is he’ll be OK. They taped him up and put him in a boot. He’s going to see a specialist tomorrow.”

A 36-year-old native of Columbia with more than 1,500 career wins, Pimentel ranked sixth in Laurel’s standings with 26 wins and $784,752 in purse earnings. He captured the $250,000 General George (G3) Feb. 18 with Imperial Hint, his first graded victory since the 2014 Parx Dash (G3) aboard Ben’s Cat.

Pimentel was replaced on each of his mounts Sunday, the first of which, Jacapo ($12.80) won the second race under jockey Forest Boyce.