Valenzuela’s Future Rests With CHRB

Whether to relicense Pat Valenzuela as a jockey is now in the hands of the California Horse Racing Board.

Ingrid Fermin, Pete Pedersen and Tom Ward, the board of stewards at Santa Anita, sent their proposed decision to Roy Wood, executive director of the CHRB, on Wednesday. The full board will review the matter in executive session, which is closed to the public, at its next meeting in Arcadia on March 30.

The stewards declined to comment on their decision, which came a week after they had a 75-minute hearing with Valenzuela and his attorney, Donald J. Calabria.

The oft-troubled Valenzuela, who has not ridden for more than a year, was suspended after testing positive for amphetamines in February 1999. At that time, the stewards recommended that he not be considered for relicensing until Feb. 11, 2001.

“If I’m permitted, I want to speak in Patrick’s behalf in front of the entire board,” Calabria said. “I asked the stewards what their decision was and they said they weren’t permitted to give it to me.

“We feel we’ve complied with everything they’ve wanted us to do, and if not, we want them to tell us what they want us to do. I spoke to Patrick [Wednesday] and his resolve is still strong.”

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Trainer Wayne Lukas, who has won the Santa Anita Oaks eight times and the Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap twice, will try for another victory in both Grade I races Saturday at Santa Anita.

Pristine, an impressive winner in her first start of the year on Feb. 28, is among nine 3-year-old fillies who could challenge favored Golden Ballet in the Oaks, and Spain is the 122-pound highweight for the Santa Margarita.

Owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis, Pristine, a $1.1-million yearling purchased at Keeneland, won one of two starts last year, then returned to win by seven lengths eight days ago, completing 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14 4/5.

Besides Golden Ballet (who has won four in a row, including victories in the Santa Ynez and Las Virgenes since the start of the current Santa Anita meet), others expected for the Oaks are Affluent, Two Item Limit, Collect Call, Flute, Aswhatilldois, Ella’s Pal and Glaringray. Desiraes My Candy and Dawaytogold are possible.

Already successful in the La Brea and La Canada Stakes here, Spain will be trying to provide Lukas with his first win in the Santa Margarita since North Sider in 1987.

Feverish, Critikola, Lovellon, the upset winner of last month’s Santa Maria Handicap, and Lazy Slusan are also expected to be entered this morning. New Story, Brianda and Miss Of Wales are possible.

Notes

Jockey Eddie Delahoussaye was off his mounts for a second consecutive racing day because of illness . . . Jockey Garrett Gomez is a new father. His wife, Pam, gave birth to Jarret Joseph Gomez on Sunday morning. . . . The riders for Team USA in the fourth annual International Jockey Challenge on Sunday at Santa Anita will be Laffit Pincay, Kent Desormeaux, Corey Nakatani and Victor Espinoza. The jockeys for Team Europe will be Kieren Fallon, Frankie Dettori, Olivier Peslier and John Murtagh.