DEL MAR : Doubts Increase as Valenzuela Fails to Contact Stewards About Absence

Del Mar stewards are trying to keep an open mind on Patrick Valenzuela, but his recent disappearing act is making that increasingly difficult.

Valenzuela, the leading rider at Del Mar with 34 victories, was supposed to have contacted the stewards Monday about a Wednesday meeting and subsequent drug test. But Steward Dave Samuel said late Monday that he had not heard from Valenzuela.

“His agent (Bob Meldahl) said he’d call,” Samuel said. “But we don’t know what happened.”

Valenzuela, who has not ridden since winning four races Friday, is being questioned about calling in sick at Pimlico Saturday. He was scheduled to ride Sunny Blossom in a $350,000 stakes race, but complained of a stomach virus and missed his eight mounts.

Samuel said that Valenzuela, who still has a 10-victory lead in the jockey race, should still be able to ride Wednesday.

“Presuming we’re satisfied with his answers, he’ll ride Wednesday,” Samuel said. “We really feel he hasn’t done anything.”

Last October, Valenzuela tested positive for cocaine and was suspended for 60 days.

Eighty days after suffering broken legs and a broken arm at Hollywood Park, jockey Chris McCarron is scheduled to ride in the fifth and sixth races Wednesday.

Scotty McClellan, McCarron’s agent, said there is still a slight possibility, however, that doctors will not clear McCarron.

“He was waiting on the X-rays (Monday night) just to make sure everything checked out OK,” McClellan said. “But Chris feels great and he’s ready to go.”

McClellan said he finds it hard to believe than his client is ready to ride again.

“I saw the X-rays on the (left thigh bone) and I thought five or six months, easy,” he said.

But McCarron’s doctors were able to insert a screw in the center of the bone, allowing McCarron to put pressure on it and not let the leg atrophy. McCarron’s right leg healed on its own.

McClellan said his client will ride two horses each Thursday and Friday, then will take three or four mounts on Saturday and Sunday.

“We’re concentrating on the better horses in the better races,” McClellan said. “You have a better chance of getting hurt with cheaper races.”

Jockey Laffit Pincay was suspended for five racing days for his actions in Sunday’s Del Mar Derby. While riding Tight Spot, stewards ruled that Pincay crossed over sharply after the start, causing interference. As a result, Tight Spot was dropped from first to 10th.

The suspension does not include certain designated races. Therefore, Pincay will be allowed to ride in Saturday’s $300,000 Cabrillo Handicap.

Ron McAnally, trainer of Tight Spot, will file a protest against the ruling that gave Itsallgreektome the victory in the Del Mar Derby.

Monday was a day of upsets. Masai Chief, an 87-1 shot ridden by Christine Davenport, won the second race. The $177.40 payoff was the biggest at Del Mar since More Influence paid $212.40 on Aug. 22, 1974. The biggest payoff at Del Mar was $263.40 by Cipria in 1955.

In the sixth race, Gold Fleece, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, paid $41.80.

Davenport’s victory was her first of the meeting and marked her first time in the money. Last year at Del Mar, she rode two winners.