DEL MAR : Valenzuela Told to Prove Illness

Jockey Pat Valenzuela, who was suspended indefinitely Thursday after failing to appear for a meeting with the Del Mar board of stewards, met with stewards Dennis Nevin, Dave Samuel and George Slender on Monday morning.

Valenzuela, 32, was accompanied by his agent, Harry Hacek, for the hearing, which lasted about 30 minutes and is expected to continue Wednesday.

Named to ride four horses on Del Mar’s opening card last Wednesday, Valenzuela called in sick, then was told to appear before the stewards Thursday. When he didn’t show, he was suspended.

“He said he was sick on opening day and we told him he’d have to give us documentation [from his doctor] of that fact,” Samuel said. “After we receive that, we’ll continue the hearing and we’ll reach a decision on what to do at that point, whether it be a dismissal, a fine or a suspension.

“[Valenzuela] looked good and he was in good spirits. He had good color and looked fine to me.”

Since 1983, Valenzuela has been fined or suspended 11 times by stewards for various incidents, not including riding infractions or minor offenses.

He was suspended indefinitely last Oct. 13 for failure to appear before the Oak Tree stewards. After he appeared, the indefinite suspension was changed to a 20-day suspension.

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Bridge Of Royalty, second behind the filly Distinguish Form in the Westchester Stakes on June 4 at Hollywood Park in his last start, heads a field of eight 2-year-olds in Wednesday’s $105,950 Graduation Stakes.

Bought by Sid and Jenny Craig for a reported $300,000 after he broke his maiden in his career debut on May 4, Bridge Of Royalty was beaten by a length at 3-5 odds in the Westchester. He was entered in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship on July 24 but was scratched because trainer Bill Spawr didn’t like his No. 2 post position.

Since shipping to Del Mar, the California-bred son of Slew’s Royalty has worked six furlongs in 1:12 1/5, which was the best of 10 drills at the distance on July 25. Laffit Pincay will ride him again.

Also in the field are Don’t Tell Wayne, fifth of seven in the Hollywood Juvenile; Hachero; Ready To Order; Riva Ranger; Jake’s Surprize; Torremolinos, and Mmmm Good. Desert Island, who would have been coupled with Don’t Tell Wayne, was scratched Monday.

Five races earlier, Slew Of Damascus will try for his second victory in the $76,100 Wickerr against five opponents.

In winning the one-mile turf race in 1993, Slew of Damascus set a course record of 1:34 that still stands. Gary Stevens will be aboard the 7-year-old Slewacide gelding, who returned to the races on June 23 at Hollywood Park after being off for more than four months. He finished second behind Pembroke in the 5 1/2-furlong Bedside Promise.

The rest of the field includes Royal Chariot, Nancys French Fry, Pollock’s Luck, Bon Point and Argentine import Lucky Bucefalo.

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Borodislew made it two victories in as many starts since Eduardo Inda took over as her trainer, and her victory Monday at Del Mar was special to Inda, longtime assistant to Ron McAnally.

Borodislew, the 5-year-old daughter of Seattle Slew, beat longshot Wild Lightning by a neck in the $76,100 Bayakoa Handicap, a race named for the champion mare McAnally trained a few years ago.

“I’m really proud of [Borodislew],” said Inda, who was with McAnally for almost 25 years. “This is a very nice race to win because of all the horses I’ve been around in my life, Bayakoa was my favorite.”

Owned by Marshall Naify’s 505 Farms, who recently hired Inda to train, and ridden by Chris McCarron, Borodislew paid $3.60 as the favorite. She ran the mile in 1:34 1/5.

Returning to California from the Midwest, Wild Lightning finished 6 1/2 lengths in front of Lunar Spook. Then came British Bauble, Gift To The World, Rhapsodic and Afleet Floozie.

The winner of four of eight races since arriving from Europe, Borodislew will make her next start in the Chula Vista Handicap on Sept. 3. Bayakoa won that race in 1990.

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Trainer James Mascari was fined $500 Monday for three medication violations that occurred during the recent Hollywood Park meeting.

Petite Penny, who won the fifth race on June 24 and the fourth race on July 7, and Layton Hill, who finished sixth in the fifth race on July 7, tested positive for excessive levels of naproxen.

An authorized medication, naproxen helps relieve soreness.

Horse Racing Notes

Jockey Russell Baze, who took off his mount, Lake Placid, in Sunday’s seventh race, was fined $100 for “failure to fulfill jockey agreement.” . . . Gary Stevens and Laffit Pincay each rode two winners Monday.