Valenzuela Ruling Could Come Today

A ruling is expected today on jockey Patrick Valenzuela.

Hollywood Park stewards Pete Pedersen, Thomas Ward and David Samuel met with the jockey’s attorneys Wednesday morning.

The stewards were unanimous in saying they weren’t satisfied with evidence presented by lawyers Sam Silverstein and Nicholas Micelli that Valenzuela was drug-free.

Silverstein and Micelli had said Monday they would provide “clear and convincing proof” that Valenzuela, who called in sick on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita, was drug-free.

A report from Coast Laboratory in San Clemente on blood and urine samples taken from Valenzuela on Nov. 7 showed him to be drug-free except for an over-the-counter product called Quinidine.

On Tuesday, Silverstein said Valenzuela, 28, had taken it in error, thinking it was a diuretic that would help him control his weight.

Statements had also been promised from Valenzuela’s doctors, but none were offered to the stewards. According to Silverstein, Valenzuela had spent a week in a Dana Point hospital for depression before being discharged Tuesday.