Any owner or trainer with a Kentucky Derby contender shopping for a jockey might want to consider Ramon Dominguez, who is nearing his comeback after being sidelined since a Jan. 18 spill at Aqueduct.
Making his first visit to the Big A yesterday since he fractured his skull in that mishap, Dominguez — New York’s leading rider in 2009-2012 and the winner of three straight Eclipse Awards as the nation’s top jockey — said he’s scheduled to meet with his doctor on March 25, and hopes he’ll get the OK to start riding again.
“I feel great, excellent,” said Dominguez, 36, who is undergoing therapy five times a week and appears to be in fine fettle. “I’m pretty optimistic that he will find me good enough to come back. From that point on, it will just be a matter of getting fit again, and that shouldn’t take too long.”
Can he make it back in time for the Derby?
“It’s crossed my mind,” he said. “I’m hopeful.‘’It’s getting closer and closer as we speak, and if time-wise we cannot do it, I’m OK with it.
“I miss [riding] a lot, but the truth is that I’ve tried not to follow or watch too many races, probably enough to put on one hand, because I don’t want to get too excited. I’ve tried to do everything by the book and listen to the doctor, so I’m definitely excited to come back soon.”