Valenzuela Returns from Suspension a Winner

More than three months after his last victory, jockey Patrick Valenzuela was back in a familiar place, the winner’s circle, Sunday at Hollywood Park.

Given a reprieve from another suspension in the form of a stay by California Horse Racing Board Chairman John Harris, the talented but oft-troubled rider won twice. Riding at 119 pounds, two or three above his desired weight, Valenzuela won the third race with Haleakala Sunrise and the fourth with favored Ms Mintons Excess among his five mounts.

Although his return wasn’t welcomed by some in the industry, including 18 of his fellow riders who signed a letter last week protesting the stay, the reception from the on-track crowd at Hollywood Park was enthusiastic. Long a fan favorite, Valenzuela acknowledged the cheers when coming back to meet Richard Matlow, the co-owner and trainer of Haleakala Sunrise, after the 3-year-old filly’s wire-to-wire victory.

“It’s unbelievable,” Valenzuela said. “It feels like I never left. I’m thankful to be here. The crowd was very uplifting.”

Before the races began, Valenzuela and his agent, former jockey Corey Black, met with Hollywood Park stewards Pete Pedersen, George Slender and Tom Ward, racing board senior investigator Mike Kilpack and Bob Fletcher of the Winner’s Foundation, an alcohol and drug abuse recovery program for all personnel at California race tracks.

Valenzuela had been suspended for the balance of 2004 by the Santa Anita stewards -- Ingrid Fermin, Pedersen and Ward -- for violating the terms of his conditional license when he failed to show for a drug test Jan. 22. He didn’t get into specifics about the meeting, but did say he was tested.

He also said a couple of his fellow riders offered encouragement before his day began and congratulations after the wins. “I was polite to everybody,” said Valenzuela, whose appeal of his suspension will be heard by the racing board and an administrative law judge May 18. “I’m just going to mind my own business and do my job.”

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Extremely reluctant to enter the starting gate before the $110,900 Wilshire Handicap, Spring Star was eager to finish the Grade II once she began, easily handling her eight opponents in stakes record time.

Trained by Richard Mandella for Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, the 5-year-old Danehill mare and 6-1 shot won for the fifth time in 12 starts, beating 11-1 outsider Quero Quero by 2 1/2 lengths. Ridden by Alex Solis, Spring Star ran the mile in 1:33.41.