After nearly two months out of action with a fractured hand, Racing Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano made a special trip from New York to Lexington for a morning session with Ferocious, one of the leading candidates for the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

How’s the hand?

“The hand is in good shape,” Castellano said as he brought Ferocious off the track after a half-mile work in :49.20.

How’s the horse?

“The horse is in good shape,” Castellano said with a smile.

And so it went for Ferocious in his first work since finishing second in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) on Oct. 5.

Coming on the fast track at 7:30 a.m. following the morning’s first harrow period, Ferocious worked his half-mile and then galloped out 5 furlongs in 1:02.40 and 6 furlongs in 1:15.20.

“He was really good this morning,” Castellano said. “We didn’t want a bullet work or anything like that. He did it the right way and had a big gallop out.”

Trainer Gustavo Delgado was equally pleased with the work and said Ferocious would work again next Saturday and ship to Del Mar on Monday, Oct. 28.

“It was all good. He did everything right,” Delgado said, adding that Castellano would have the Breeders’ Cup mount on the colt owned by JR Ranch, Ramiro Restrepo, High Step Racing and OGMA Investments.

Because of his injury, Castellano was unavailable to ride Ferocious in the Hopeful (G1) and Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity after being aboard for the colt’s debut victory.

Castellano was heading back to New York Saturday afternoon and will resume riding Thursday, when he is named on four horses at Aqueduct. The mounts will come a day after his 47th birthday.