FAIRPLEX PARK : Jockey Flores Surfaces, Will Skip Meeting

Jockey David Flores, missing since he failed to show for his mounts Monday at Fairplex Park in Pomona, contacted stewards Wednesday from Tijuana and said he will not return for the remainder of the meet.

Steward David Samuel said Flores, 27, who has a history of personal and emotional problems, told him that he “wanted to take some time off to get his head on straight.”

Efforts to contact Flores by track officials and Flores’ agent, Bill Barisoff, failed Monday and Tuesday, prompting Barisoff to say he no longer would work with Flores, a Tijuana native.

Barisoff began handling Flores’ mounts in 1990 and parted with the jockey in 1993 because he “didn’t like his work habits.”

The agent rejoined Flores before this year’s Del Mar meet.

Flores, who had a meet-high nine victories, is 13 shy of becoming the all-time leading jockey at Fairplex.

Should he change his mind and return, he probably would face a suspension, Samuel said.

Flores did not indicate whether he would be back for the start of the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita, which begins Oct. 4.

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He is the nephew of Fernando Toro, one of the greatest turf jockeys ever, but Jose Valdivia Jr. seems to prefer dirt.

Riding longshot Saratoga Flower on Wednesday, Valdivia, from Peru, closed strongly and edged favored Canta’s Crusade at the wire to win the $110,000 Barretts Debutante, a 6 1/2-furlong race restricted to 2-year-old fillies offered for auction at Barretts, a stable on the Fairplex grounds.

It was the apprentice jockey’s third victory of the day and sixth of the meeting. It was also his first stakes victory.

“[Trainer Mike] Orman told me [Saratoga Flower] has a great kick, to just try to get her into contention a little bit earlier than usual and she would run real true,” he said. “I can’t thank him enough for putting me on this horse.”

Saratoga Flower, who broke her maiden with the victory, was purchased for $28,000 by a consortium, including Orman’s wife, Brenda. The filly went off at 25-1 and paid $53.00 for a $2 bet.

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Nightcapper heads a field of 10 horses entered in today’s $110,000 Barretts Juvenile, a 6 1/2-furlong event for 2-year-old colts and geldings.