OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Though he could only manage a third-place finish aboard favored Ed Miracle in Thursday's ninth race at Aqueduct, jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. still had reasons to feel like a winner. After a six-month experiment riding in Southern California, Arroyo was home. "I feel great that I'm back - this is home," Arroyo said earlier in the day. "I liked California, it was a good experience, but there's nothing like home. After Puerto Rico this became my home, and I didn't really realize it till I left." Arroyo left New York in the spring to pursue an opportunity in Southern California. He began riding at the Hollywood Park spring-summer meet and rode in California through Nov. 3. Overall, Arroyo won 24 races from 247 mounts in Southern California, 11 of those winners coming at Del Mar. Arroyo said he left because he didn't feel he was getting enough business. Arroyo, 30, said he had a conversation with Angel Cordero Jr., the agent for John Velazquez, about riding the winter in south Florida. Agents may represent two journeyman riders in that state. But Arroyo decided to return to Aqueduct, where he was the leading apprentice rider in 2000. "I'm staying here definitely," Arroyo said. "This is where I want to be." Arroyo has hired Jose Amy to be his agent. In 2004, Amy had his jockey's license restored after he had been banned for 24 years because of his role in a race-fixing scheme on this circuit in the 1970's. Amy gave up on his comeback in March and became a jockey agent for Carlos Quinones for a short period. Arroyo has had his own difficulties, which included a 39-day stay in prison in 2003 stemming from an assault charge. Arroyo is convinced that he and Amy can make a good team. "I love his work ethic," Arroyo said of Amy. "He works very hard every day and people seem to like him. I spoke to some trainers before I hired him and they all said they like him." Rider escapes injury in prerace spill