HOT SPRINGS -- Ricardo Santana Jr., Oaklawn's top jockey for the past two years and the leading rider this season, has been hospitalized with flu-like symptoms.
Santana, 22, became ill after riding Endless Escape to a runner-up finish in the first race Wednesday and was taken to St. Vincent Hospital in Hot Springs, where he spent the night.
Ruben Munoz, Santana's agent, said the jockey would remain hospitalized at least through this morning, but he would not rule out Santana returning for the final two days of the Racing Festival of the South.
Santana, who won a meet-best 59 races in 2014, came into the final week of the season with 53 victories in 309 mounts. He entered the meet's final four days with an eight-victory lead over Ramon Vazquez, but a third consecutive riding title may be in jeopardy for the native of Panama.
Vazquez won five races Thursday, giving the 30-year-old rider from Puerto Rico 50 victories.
"Until you mentioned it, I really haven't thought about the riding title," Santana said by telephone from his hospital room Thursday. "I wouldn't care if Ramon wins the title. I just want my health back."
Vazquez won aboard Don't Hold Me Back ($11.40) in the first, Pretty Suspect ($15.80) in the second, Backontheroad ($5.20) in the fourth, Rock City Roadhog ($5.20) in the sixth and Jessicalea T ($7.20) in the seventh. It's the second time this season Vazquez has won five races, the first time coming on Jan. 25.
Vazquez had a chance to equal Oaklawn's single-day record of six victories, accomplished by Larry Snyder and Pat Day, but finished sixth on Cape Town Stevie in the ninth race.
Sports on 04/10/2015