Valenzuela To The Top?
Jockey Pat Valenzuela, who rode Sunday Silence to victory in the 1989 Kentucky Derby, looks for a repeat aboard Comma to the Top.
Pat Valenzuela
News, Articles, Videos and other content about Pat Valenzuela
Valenzuela Licensed to Ride in Kentucky
The license review committee of Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Sept. 30 unanimously granted jockey Pat Valenzuela a license to ride in the state.
Valenzuela Wins 4,000th Race
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.
Valenzuela Sidelined Indefinitely Due to Back Problem
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela apparently is facing the possibility of being away from racing for an indefinite period because of continuing back pain, his agent Tom Knust said Thursday morning.
Bailey May Be on Ouija Board; P Val Has Five Probable Mounts
When Lord Derby's Ouija Board seeks to defend her title in the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) Oct. 29, she could have the services of Jerry Bailey, whose 14 wins is first among all jockeys in World Thoroughbred Championships history.
Steve Haskin's Derby Report: PVal to Ride Coin Silver, General John B Out
An ugly, rainy morning, and no Kentucky Derby (gr. I) works made for a funky Friday. The Derby lost one prospective starter when it was announced General John B will not run due to a tendon injury to his left front leg. On the jockey front was the announcement that Pat Valenzuela will ride Coolmore Lexington (gr. II) winner Coin Silver.
Shadow of Illinois Shows the Way in San Simeon
Shadow of Illinois, a 5-year-old California-bred gelding, won the $100,000 San Simeon Handicap (gr. IIIT) under Mark Guidry on the hillside turf course Monday to give trainer Anthony Saavedra his first-ever stakes win at Santa Anita Park and his first graded stakes win in Southern California on the closing day of the meet.
Offshore Casino Buys Right to Advertise on Valenzuela's Clothing
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, who offered advertising on his jockey pants legs and his collar for sale on the auction Web site eBay, received one winning bid for $15,000 from an offshore casino and will begin wearing the ads during Wednesday's card at Santa Anita.
Pat Valenzuela's Suspension Overturned by CHRB
The California Horse Racing Board Friday cleared the way for jockey Pat Valenzuela to regain his riding license when it voted to adopt the ruling of an administrative law judge that overruled a board of stewards' suspension of the rider.
Breeders' Cup Distaff Winner Adoration Retired
Adoration, who was getting ready to defend her Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) title at Lone Star Park Oct. 30, will instead be retired after injuring a front ankle.
California Board Postpones PVal Hearing
The California attorney general's office has postponed indefinitely Thursday's scheduled formal hearing by Hollywood Park stewards concerning the summary suspension of jockey Pat Valenzuela, which went into effect July 2.
Stewards To Meet on PVal Suspension July 15
Hollywood Park stewards will conduct a formal hearing concerning the summary suspension of jockey Pat Valenzuela on Thurs., July 15, at Hollywood Park, the California Horse Racing Board announced.
Pat Valenzuela's Suspension Extended Remainder of Year
Jockey Pat Valenzuela, who has had a history of drug related problems during his career, today had his current suspension extended through the remainder of 2004 by the Santa Anita stewards.
Jockey Valenzuela Fires Agent; Cites Conflict in Representation
Patrick Valenzuela, the leading rider at Southern California's five major meets during the last calendar year, has fired his agent of the last two years, Nick Cosato.
Valentine Dancer Strides Away in Ramser
Long-striding Valentine Dancer took the lead in the final furlong and kicked away for a three-length victory Sunday in the $113,900 Harold C. Ramser Sr. Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at Oak Tree.
Phoenix Looks To Be Beau's Town
Beau's Town, a winner of four of five starts this year, is the one to beat in the $250,000 Phoenix Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. III) as Keeneland opens its fall meet Friday.
Del Mar's Handle, On-Track Attendance Climb
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club completed 2003 with an all-time record for pari-mutuel handle and the highest on-track attendance since the addition of inter-track wagering in 1988.
Valenzuela Replaces Stevens in Match Race With Krone
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela has agreed to replace the injured Gary Stevens in a match race against Julie Krone scheduled for Sunday, September 7. Billed as the Battle of the Sexes Match Race, the event will pit the pair in a two-turn race on equally matched horses.
The Reading Room: What They're Writing About the Preakness
Links to Preakness stories elsewhere on the Web.
Funny Cide 7-5 Preakness Favorite; Bailey Replaces Valenzuela on Ten Cents a Shine
Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide was installed as the 7-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's $1-million Preakness Stakes (gr. I) when post positions were drawn Wednesday. The son of Distorted Humor will break from post position nine under jockey Jose Santos. Peace Rules, who finished third in the Derby, is the 8-5 second choice.
Repository Wins Winter Solstice for Lukas; Santa Catarina Returns
Repository won a pace battle with betting favorite Paga and held off the flying Brocky's Dream to earn a half-length victory Wednesday in the $80,400 Winter Solstice Stakes at Santa Anita. Earlier, Santa Catarina made a successful return in an allowance race as the heavy favorite.
Rubber Match for Composure, Elloluv in Santa Anita Oaks
With one win apiece, Composure and Elloluv continue their blossoming rivalry Saturday in the $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita Park.
Krone Subs for Chavez in San Vicente
Trainer Wesley Ward replaced Jorge Chavez with Julie Krone aboard Runnin' On Nitro in Saturday's San Vicente Stakes (Gr. II) at Santa Anita.
Apalachian Thunder Rumbles at Santa Anita
Donald Dizney's homebred Apalachian Thunder defeated a promising field of 3-year-olds that included Atswhatimtalknbout and Listen Indy in Friday's $56,000 allowance feature at Santa Anita.
Elloluv Says 'See Ya' in Santa Ynez
J. Paul Reddam's Elloluv rallied from the outside with Watching You through the stretch, pulling away in the late stages to capture the $150,000 Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita Monday.
Santa Anita Race Report (Cont.)
Icantgoforthat Convincing in Survive Stakes
Icantgoforthat opened a commanding lead on the turn and powered home by more than thee lengths Friday in the $107,100 Survive Stakes for older California-bred fillies and mares at Santa Anita Park.
Pat Valenzuela Hit With 3-Day Suspension
Santa Anita stewards handed Jockey Pat Valenzuela a three-day suspension Tuesday, effective Jan. 8.
Stein Just Happy to Have 'Business' Around
I'm The Business, a starter in Sunday's Las Palmas Handicap (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita, barely survived an extreme case of ulcers last year.
Madame Pietra Takes Cascapedia Stakes
Madame Pietra rallied under jockey Pat Valenzuela for a convincing 2 1/2-length victory Thursday in the $82,250 Cascapedia Stakes for fillies and mares at Oak Tree.
BC Jockey Assignments All But Firmed Up
Although there are a few mounts still open, the jockey assignments for the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships are pretty much confirmed. Of the leading riders, Mike Smith, Jerry Bailey, Pat Day, and Edgar Prado are particularly deep in talent.
Valenzuela to Ride Falcon Flight in Canadian International
Pat Valenzuela, California's leading rider this year, will be aboard Falcon Flight in $1.5 million Canadian International (Can-IT) at Woodbine on Sept. 29.
Advance Deposit Wagering Boosts Del Mar Numbers
Boosted by the introduction of Advance Deposit Wagering, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club posted record wagering of $529,171,119 for the 2002 meet that concluded Wednesday.
Del Mar Race Report: Rolling Along
- By Lenny Shulman
- News, Racing
Inesperado remains undefeated in the U.S.; Frankel remains in a league of his own.
Continental Red Headlines Del Mar Handicap
A full field of 10 will go postward in the 63rd edition of the Del Mar Handicap (gr. IIT) Sunday for the 1 3/8-mile race over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.
Kappa King Takes On Strut the Stage In Arlington Handicap
California invader Kappa King will share starting highweight of 117 pounds with the Canadian-based Strut the Stage and the locally campaigned Mystery Giver in the $225,000 Arlington Handicap (gr. IIIT) Saturday at Arlington Park.
Hollywood Park Handle, Attendance Spiral
Hollywood Park finished its spring/summer meet Sunday with an 9.4% increase in on-track attendance and record averages for combined common pool handle ($10,599,015) and all sources handle ($11,136,784).
Hollywood Park Race Report (Cont.)
Valenzuela Second With First Mount in Comeback
In his first ride in a competitive race since February 2000, jockey Pat Valenzuela rode 17-1 shot Fall For Me to a second-place finish in the fourth race on Santa Anita's opening-day card Wednesday.
PVal Rides Again
- By Lenny Shulman
- News, Racing
The on-again, off-again career of jockey Patrick Valenzuela is on again. Valenzuela, 39, received a conditional license to resume riding from the California Horse Racing Board on Friday and will begin working horses Saturday, according to his attorney, Don Calabria.
Valenzuela Denied Reinstatement of License to Ride
The California Horse Racing Board, meeting in executive session, denied Patrick Valenzuela's license application by upholding the stewards recommendation that the 38-year-old jockey not be relicensed. However, the racing commissioners indicated Valenzuela may reapply for a license in six months if at that time he can prove that he is no longer abusing drugs or alcohol and can show proof that he has regularly attended the Winners' Foundation program without interruption for the entire six-month period.
Most Popular Stories
- Almoonqith Wins at Meydan, Cavalryman Injured
- Extra Two Days Approved for Oaklawn Season
- Illinois Racing Board Appointments Announced
- Pride of Dubai Wins Blue Diamond Thriller
- Shamal Wind, Suavito Sprint to Caulfield Wins
- Another Chapter for John Nerud
- Oaklawn Park Cancels Feb. 28 Racing
- TJC Acquires Majority Interest in Blood-Horse
- Suffolk Downs, Horsemen Have Deal for Meets
- American Pharoah Shows Readiness for Rebel
