Valdivia enjoying return to California

Jose Valdivia Jr., a top rider in Southern California in the 2000s, has returned to this circuit after years of riding in the Midwest. Valdivia, who has two mounts on Friday’s eight-race program at Del Mar, is relaunching his California career at a venue he knows well.

Valdivia won 11 stakes at Del Mar from 2003 to 2012 and will ride there for the first time since the Breeders’ Cup in 2017.

“The thing about it is a change of scenery is good and you appreciate what you left behind,” he said.

Valdivia said last weekend that he plans to remain in Southern California in 2020 and will not return to the Chicago-area circuit, where he has been riding. Valdivia was the leading rider for five consecutive seasons at Arlington Park, from 2015 through this past summer.

Opportunities for Valdivia at Arlington have waned in recent years, with fewer racing days and fewer races per card..

Valdivia was at Santa Anita during the build-up to the Breeders’ Cup in late October and had five mounts in late October and last weekend. Valdivia acknowledged it will take time to rebuild business in Southern California.

“Hopefully, it will work out,” he said. “The response has been good. I’m happy to be back.”

Valdivia, 45, won the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Belmont Park on Val Royal and the 2011 Belmont Stakes on Ruler On Ice.

Valdivia’s family lives in the Del Mar area, which will make riding at the four-week autumn meeting, which begins on Friday, even more convenient. There will be times when he will face a drive to Santa Anita to work horses since many stables are remaining there this month.

“I’m not crazy about the traffic,” he said. “After racing, I’ll already be home.”