Valenzuela Back Riding in Louisiana

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela is scheduled to ride in races for the first time since January of 2014 with two mounts Nov. 19 at Delta Downs for trainer Karl Broberg.

Valenzuela has been suspended in California since early 2014, when he failed to fulfill his commitment to ride two races at Santa Anita Park. Valenzuela, who has a history of substance abuse, had been riding with a conditional license that made him subject to drug and alcohol testing at the California Horse Racing Board's request. That suspension expired Oct. 31, but he has not filed for a jockey license in California, according to CHRB spokesman Mike Marten.

"I'm going to ride wherever I can ride," Valenzuela said Nov. 12. "Fair Grounds is where I'd like to be riding, but pursuing a California license would be nice, too. My home is in Southern California, but I have a second home, as a horseman, in Louisiana."

Broberg, a lifetime horseplayer, turned owner, turned trainer—who began conditioning in 2010 at the age of 39—is excited to be the first to have Valenzuela ride for him.

"He and I talked about it a year ago, just before Delta started," Broberg said. "If he was able to get licensed, we were going to give it a try. The timing made a lot of sense. What can I say? I cheer for the underdog.

"As far as I'm concerned, he's the best ever. How can you not love P-Val?"

Valenzuela's first mount could be Mypalcharliebrown in a $5,000 claiming race at Delta, but the 4-year-old My Pal Charlie gelding will have to draw in from the also-eligible list. His second mount of the day is another also-eligible in Stormy Allyssa, who could get into a $10,000 maiden claimer. If those two don't make it into their races, he's also scheduled for a mount Nov. 20 at Delta aboard Jodie Hodges-trained R U a Winner in a $20,000 maiden claiming event.

Valenzuela began exercising horses in California in August, but said he is currently unwilling to jump through any more hoops for the CHRB.

BALAN: Valenzuela Back Working Horses in Morning

"They want me to go through another hearing, but that would be a waste of time," Valenzuela said of his dealings with the regulatory board. "I have no money to waste on lawyers, and the state of California shouldn't be spending money on lawyers, either. My suspension is over and I should be able to get a license in California."

Whether he'll return to riding on the West Coast remains to be seen, but for the time being, Valenzuela is just happy to be back in the saddle.

"It's going to be really nice riding races again, and doing what God gave me the ability to do," Valenzuela said.

Since he began riding in 1978, the now 53-year-old jockey has been aboard 4,346 winners from 28,398 starts, with purse earnings of more than $165 million. He has won 215 graded stakes during that time, including Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) wins with Sunday Silence and Breeders' Cup scores with Adoration, Eliza, Fraise, Arazi, Opening Verse, Very Sublte, and Brave Raj.