P Val is back. Patrick Valenzuela, who began riding in 1978 and has won 4,372 races, including the 1989 Kentucky Derby and seven Breeders’ Cup races, but has had repeated disruptions to his career caused by substance abuse problems, has been named to ride three horses at Turf Paradise in Phoenix on Monday. Valenzuela, 63, has not ridden since December 2016 in Louisiana. “I’m looking forward to riding at Turf Paradise and hopefully other places as well,” Valenzuela said in an interview on Sunday. Valenzuela has worked as an exercise rider at tracks in Southern California in recent years, and moved to Turf Paradise earlier this year with the hope of gaining a jockey’s license. Valenzuela said he has been active in the mornings at Turf Paradise in recent weeks to gain fitness and lose weight. He was granted a license in recent weeks. “They wanted me down to 124 before they gave me a license,” Valenzuela said. “I’ve been getting on 10 to 12 horses day. “I’m feeling good. I’m blessed to have the privilege of a jockey’s license.” :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. Valenzuela sought a jockey’s license in California last year, but the request was rejected by the California Horse Racing Board on the recommendation of a hearing officer. Valenzuela held an exercise rider’s license at the time. “I never gave up,” Valenzuela said over the weekend. On Monday, Valenzuela is booked to ride Dads Estrella in a $12,500 claimer at 5 1/2 furlongs for owner and trainer Kasey Kemper in the third race. Valenzuela has two mounts for Vann Belvoir – Factory Drive in an allowance/optional claimer at a mile on turf in the seventh race, and Levi Gone Wild in a $4,500 claimer for nonwinners of two at 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt in the eighth race. Valenzuela said he traveled to Phoenix earlier this year to spend more time with a brother, J.R. Another brother, the former jockey Fabian Valenzuela, died earlier this decade. “It puts things into perspective,” Patrick Valenzuela said. “I’ve been out here for a month and a half,” he said of moving to Phoenix. “I started working and going to the gym. Here I am.” The California Horse Racing Board’s decision to deny Valenzuela a license was the third rejection in a decade. In 2015, Valenzuela’s request for a jockey’s license was rejected by the racing board. The decision came after Valenzuela was suspended in March 2014 for failing to appear to ride on consecutive days at Santa Anita in January 2014. At the time, track stewards stated Valenzuela should not be reinstated in any capacity. Valenzuela appealed the decision to a hearing officer who recommended he be reinstated as a jockey. The racing board rejected the decision, but allowed Valenzuela to hold an exercise rider’s license in the state. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports In March 2016, Valenzuela again made a request for a jockey’s license in California and was rejected by the racing board. Valenzuela appealed but was unable to overturn the decision. He was licensed in Louisiana at the time and rode at Fair Grounds until that fall. Valenzuela is well known for winning such races as the 1989 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes on Sunday Silence. Valenzuela won seven Breeders’ Cup races from 1986 to 2003 and was a former leading rider on the tough Southern California circuit. He has won five riding titles at Del Mar, most recently in the summer of 2003; two titles at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting; most recently in 2005-2006; and five titles at Hollywood Park, the last in the fall of 2003. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.