7/17/07

Turning for home in the sixth race on the turf course at River Downs on Tuesday it looked like nothing could stop Twostep Partner from winning the race. With a furlong left to run, the gray colt apparently shied from the right handed whip of jockey Francisco Vidal and veered sharply to the right, leaping over the hedge and unseating Vidal.

The 48-year-old Vidal huddled in a ball along the hedge and just missed being stepped on by Sharpest Cat as jockey Rodney Prescott reacted quickly to veer his mount away from the fallen rider. The remaining eight horses passed Vidal without incident.

The journey for the 3-year-old colt did not stop there. He continued to run past the back of the infield tote board and headed straight for the pond where he dove in and swam for about two minutes until he decided to head for shore. With the assistance of outrider Kim Jordan, as if on cue, he leapt out of the pond to an awaiting trainer Dennis Moore.

Vidal was conscious and alert when the track paramedics took him to First-Aid. Track physician Nico Capurro attended to Vidal who complained of shoulder pain. He was transported to Anderson Mercy Hospital for precautionary x-rays.

Twostep Partner was walked off the turf course and examined by veterinarian John Piehowicz back at the barn. “He’s clean, no cuts, hardly looks like he ran a race,” stated Piehowicz. “I’d give him a clean bill of health.”

For more information contact John Engelhardt, Director of Publicity

(513) 354-8243 or johne@riverdowns.com