Valenzuela Rides 6 Winners to Equal Oak Tree Record; Has 27 in 14 Days

Pat Valenzuela rode 6 winning horses at Santa Anita Friday, tying the record for victories by a jockey in one day at an Oak Tree meeting.

In Oak Tree’s 20-year history, the 6-win feat had been accomplished only twice before, by Steve Valdez on Oct. 15, 1973, and by Darrel McHargue on Oct. 25, 1979.

Valenzuela, who turned 26 Tuesday, had already built a large lead in the 1988 Oak Tree jockey standings. The Montrose, Colo., native has 27 winners in the first 14 days of the 27-day meeting.

Valenzuela rode in all 9 races on Friday’s card and started off by winning both halves of the daily double aboard Raise You in the first race and Magic Johnson in the second. He went on to win the fourth race on Caro’s Ruler, the sixth on Defend Your Man, the seventh on Beat and the ninth on Unrepressed.

“After I won 3 of the first 4, I knew I was going to have a super day,” said Valenzuela, who is riding well after coming back from a battle with drug problems. “I thought my best shots were at the end. I’m always optimistic, and you always expect a good day when you’re riding good horses.”

Only one rider has ever reached the Santa Anita winner’s circle 7 times in the same day. Laffit Pincay did it on March 14, 1987, during the Los Angeles Turf Club meeting. There have been another half-dozen 6-win days at the winter-spring meetings.