Valenzuela Loses Mounts While Drug Investigation Continues

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela was refused permission to ride today as the Board of Stewards for the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita continued an investigation into what one of them called the rider’s drug use.

Valenzuela, who rode Sunday Silence to victory in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes last spring, was taken off his scheduled mounts by the stewards for three days: today, Friday and Saturday.

Valenzuela, 27, has not ridden since calling in sick Oct. 13. He took a drug test Friday, and it was reported initially that the results were negative.

But apparently there was disagreement between the initial report and the written report, which stewards subsequently received.

Steward Pete Pedersen said the written report sent to the California Horse Racing Board by BPL Toxicology Laboratory of Tarzana showed a positive result for cocaine.

Valenzuela met with the Board of Stewards today, and the immediate result was the continuation of the board’s refusal to allow him to ride. Pedersen said he and the other stewards will determine a penalty for Valenzuela, “hopefully by 10 a.m. tomorrow.”