Kentucky Derby (gr. I)-winning jockey Patrick Valenzuela, 49, announced his retirement Dec. 9, agent Tom Knust confirmed.
Friday, December 09, 2011
California Flag became the first horse to win the Morvich Stakes (gr. IIIT) three times when he took the latest edition of the race by a half-length over Excessive Passion in a furious finish Oct. 10.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Odds-on choice Acclamation continued his dominance over the Southern California turf division when he held off a determined Champ Pegasus in the $150,000 Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Oct. 2.
Sunday, October 02, 2011
Acclamation, with a patented front-running ride from veteran jockey Patrick Valenzuela, held off favored Twirling Candy in the final furlong to win the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic (gr. I) by a head at Del Mar Aug. 28.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela drove Burns through an opening at the rail past mid-stretch to capture the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap (gr. IIT), giving trainer Barry Abrams a special moment at Del Mar Aug. 13.
Saturday, August 13, 2011On the eve of the "Battle of the Exes" match race between Mike Smith and Chantal Sutherland, the last combatants in such an event at Del Mar, Julie Krone and Patrick Valenzuela, offered recollections of their 2003 battle.
Saturday, August 06, 2011
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela is off his mounts at Hollywood Park July 9 after being unseated in a race the night before. According to his agent, Tom Knust, the 48-year-old rider should return to action July 10.
Saturday, July 09, 2011
Even-money favorite Courageous Cat chalked up his first grade I stakes victory when he held off the closing Caracortado by a neck to win the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile (gr. IT) on a firm Hollywood Park turf course.
Saturday, July 02, 2011
Jockey Pat Valenzuela, who rode Sunday Silence to victory in the 1989 Kentucky Derby, looks for a repeat aboard Comma to the Top.
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Comma to the Top, runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), breezed five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 over the Cushion Track at Hollywood Park May 1 in his final drill for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Upstart Separate Forest opened a substantial lead in her stakes debut and refused to give way to heavy favorite Unzip Me to win the $100,000 Las Cienegas Handicap (gr. IIIT) by a neck at Santa Anita.
Saturday, April 09, 2011
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, who was thrown to the turf following the start of the Sweet Life Stakes Jan. 22, was forced to take off of his nine mounts Jan. 23 as a result of the mishap.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
California Nectar led every step of the way while holding off heavy favorite Zazu in the final strides to win the $150,000 Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II) by a neck at Santa Anita Jan. 15.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Briecat led all the way for jockey Patrick Valenzuela to score a 13-1 upset by a neck in the $150,000 Las Palmas Handicap (gr. IIT) on closing day of the Oak Tree meet Oct. 31 over the Hollywood Park turf.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Quick Enough lived up to his name in the Morvich Handicap (gr. IIIT) Oct. 11 as he gave jockey Patrick Valenzuela his first Oak Tree stakes win in nearly four years with a 1 1/2-length score in the six-furlong turf event.
Monday, October 11, 2010
J P's Gusto an impressive winner in Del Mar Futurity.
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela earned his first California stakes victory since the fall of 2007 when he guided J P's Gusto to a front-running half-length win in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) at Del Mar Aug. 8.
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Patrick Valenzuela, a five-time champion at Del Mar but riding at the seashore for the first time in three years, will ride 2-1 morning line favorite J P's Gusto in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 8.
Saturday, August 07, 2010
A grateful Patrick Valenzuela basked in a warm welcome back to California racing as he resumed his riding career in the Golden State July 28.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Ten runners, including a trio from the Bob Baffert barn, help form an intriguing lineup in the $200,000 San Diego Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar July 31.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, "permanently" suspended by the California Horse Racing Board in September 2008 following a drunk driving conviction, was authorized to return to action in the state July 22.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
With one week left until the end of Hollywood Park's 2008 fall racing season, jockey Rafael Bejarano is poised to complete a rare riding feat: a sweep of each victory title at every major meet in Southern California in 2008.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
After challenging for command entering the lane, Stormy West withstood late challenges from Final Refrain and Barbette to capture the inaugural running of the $60,000 Blushing K.D. Handicap, the co-feature on a wet opening day to Fair Grounds' 137th season Nov. 14.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Patrick Valenzuela, whose career as a jockey has been both troubled and brilliant, won his 4,000th race Oct. 9. His milestone victory came at Louisiana Downs aboard Burst of Light in a one-mile allowance/optional claiming event.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, closing in on 4,000 victories in a star-crossed career, is apparently finished competing in California.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, on three years' probation for a California DUI and unable to apply for a riding license in that state until Dec. 31 of this year, plans to begin riding races at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., according to a report in the Daily Racing Form.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela was fined $1,595 and sentenced to three years' probation after pleading guilty to a charge of driving under the influence during a pre-trial hearing May 6 in San Bernardino County Superior Court.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela showed up in a Southern California court April 18, three weeks after a bench warrant was issued for his arrest when he failed to appear for a hearing that stemmed from a driving under the influence charge in December.
Friday, April 18, 2008
A warrant has been issued in a California county for the arrest of jockey Patrick Valenzuela, who failed to appear at a recent hearing associated with a charge against him for driving under the influence.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
With his conditional license revoked in California and no chance to apply there until Dec. 31, Patrick Valenzuela is shifting his tack to Louisiana.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela's conditional racing license was terminated by the California Horse Racing Board Dec. 28 for violating terms of his agreement regarding the consumption or possession of alcohol.
Friday, December 28, 2007West Point Thoroughbreds appears to have a good one in the 2-year-old El Gato Malo, who stormed to victory over his Golden Gate Fields' rivals in the $75,000 Gold Rush in just his second start Dec. 15.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela returns to California for the first time in nearly one year Nov. 17 at Hollywood Park.
Thursday, November 15, 2007Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, out of action for the past 11 months, returned to the saddle Nov. 3 at New Mexico's Zia Park with a pair of victories.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela's reinstatement was on hold Oct. 24 following a brief meeting between Valenzuela and his agent, Tom Knust, with Oak Tree stewards at Santa Anita during the morning.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007Richard Migliore has been selected to replace injured Patrick Valenzuela on Bordonaro in the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint at Santa Anita on Jan. 27.
Thursday, January 18, 2007Under a patient ride from Patrick Valenzuela, odds-on choice Proudinsky seized the lead at the eighth pole and drew away in the final strides to win the $100,000 Bay Meadows Derby (gr. IIIT) on the lawn Sunday.
Sunday, November 05, 2006Favored Fast Parade rallied from just off the pace to win Sunday's $500,000 Nearctic Stakes (Can-II) for turf sprinters at Woodbine.
Sunday, October 22, 2006Jockey Patrick Valenzuela has hired veteran California agent Jim Pegram to handle his riding engagements, replacing Tom Knust, who will continue to maintain the business for Corey Nakatani.
Friday, October 13, 2006After Bordonaro's smashing front-running victory in the Ancient Title Breeders' Cup (gr. I) Saturday at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meet, accomplished in a time of 1:07 4/5 for six furlongs, owners Fred Carrillo and Dan Cassella have a tough decision ahead of them.
Saturday, October 07, 2006Jockey Patrick Valenzuela has been named to ride four horses on Thursday's card at Oak Tree at Santa Anita, but may not know whether he'll be allowed to ride until a few hours prior to post time.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006Riding for the first time since July 16 because of a back injury, the subbing Patrick Valenzuela drove the 8-1 shot Becrux to a neck victory over Rebel Rebel in the $896,460(US) Bell Woodbine Mile (Can-I) on the E.P. Taylor turf course Sunday.
Sunday, September 17, 2006Embattled jockey Patrick Valenzuela, who hasn't ridden since the conclusion of the spring/summer meet at Hollywood Park July 16, was given clearance to resume exercising horses Sept. 7 after meeting with Del Mar stewards the morning of Sept. 6.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006Hystericalady, shipped south by trainer leading Northern California conditioner Jerry Hollendorfer, demolished the field in the $152,400 Hollywood Breeders' Cup Oaks (gr. II) Sunday at Hollywood Park.
Sunday, June 11, 2006Harris Farms' homebred Lucky J.H. prevailed in a terrific stretch duel with the veteran sprinter Captain Squire to win the $100,000 Ack Ack Handicap (gr. III) at Hollywood Park Saturday, giving the 4-year-old colt his third straight win.
Saturday, June 10, 2006For all her accomplishments, the millionaire mare Star Parade has never been able to win successive races. That dubious distinction held when the even-money choice in Saturday's $168,000 Milady Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) came up a head short of the winning Proposed after a stretch-long drive to the wire at Hollywood Park.
Saturday, June 03, 2006Heavily favored Magnum registered a convincing 1 ¼-length victory over Texcess in Monday's $400,000 Lone Star Park Handicap (gr. III) on a muddy track in Grand Prairie, Texas. The 1 1/16-mile race for older horses capped Lone Star Park's eighth annual Lone Star Million – a six-race stakes bonanza on Memorial Day.
Monday, May 29, 2006A $100,000 purse boost since last year is helping to lure the deepest field in race history for Monday's Grade III, $400,000 Lone Star Park Handicap.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006After a disappointing effort in the Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) one month ago, Gary Tanaka's veteran mare Star Parade returned to the familiar surroundings of Hollywood Park to capture the $100,000 Hawthorne Handicap (gr. III) in determined front-running fashion Sunday.
Sunday, May 07, 2006Santa Anita Park concluded its 86-day winter/spring meeting Sunday with double-digit gains in on-track attendance and handle.
Monday, April 24, 2006
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