Oaklawn Park news: Leading rider Valdivia Jr. sets up shop

Agent Jay Fedor said Saturday afternoon that he will represent perennial Arlington Park riding champion Jose Valdivia Jr. at the 2019 Oaklawn Park meeting that begins Jan. 25.

Valdivia, 43, hasn’t ridden regularly in Hot Springs since 1997 when he won 18 races, including the $50,000 Hot Springs Stakes aboard Virtuous Regent for trainer Randy Morse. Valdivia rode regularly that year for the late Bob Holthus, Oaklawn’s all-time leading trainer.

Valdivia’s scored his biggest Oaklawn victory to date aboard Buzzards Bay in the $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) in 2006.

Fedor was scheduled to represent Luis Contreras this year at Oaklawn, but the agent said he isn’t sure the jockey will ride in Hot Springs because of “personal issues.” Contreras won 15 races at the 2018 Oaklawn meeting.

“He’s tried to get me before; I’ve tried to get him before,” Fedor said of Valdivia. “It’s been an ongoing process for a few years. With Luis and his situation, I was trying to find somebody.”

Valdivia has ridden 1,815 career North American winners since 1994, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization. He won the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) in 2001 aboard Val Royal and the Belmont Stakes (G1) – the final leg of racing’s Triple Crown – in 2011 aboard Ruler On Ice.

“It’ funny, I’ve never worked for Jay, but I’ve known him for a long time,” Valdivia said Saturday afternoon. “I always felt that if I had the opportunity to work together with him, it would be great. I can see the kind of job that he’s done with his past riders, you know (Corey) Nakatani, Gary Stevens, coming in. I’m excited. Haven’t been to Oaklawn in a while, since I rode for Mr. Bob Holthus – may he rest in peace.”

Valdivia has been riding recently at Golden Gate Fields in northern California for trainer Larry Rivelli, but he had been wintering at Fair Grounds. Rivelli is Arlington’s perennial leading trainer. 

Fedor also represents Stewart Elliott, best known as the rider of champion Smarty Jones.

Dallas in Hot Springs

Trainer Dallas Stewart annually winters at Fair Grounds, but the former D. Wayne Lukas assistant has a 10-horse string this year at Oaklawn.

Beau Chapman, Stewart’s Oaklawn-based assistant, said about “three-quarters of the barn” is newly turned 3-year-olds, adding it should be active early in the meeting. 

“Just opening weekend, we’ve got like four or five that we’re going to run,” Chapman said Tuesday morning. “Dallas is going to ship some up from Fair Grounds and see how they do. But, they’ve been doing everything right.”

Stewart’s unstarted 3-year-olds, Chapman said, are Hidden Ruler (a Gemologist colt), Munnings Soul (a Perfect Soul filly) and Tale of La Comete (a Tale of Ekati filly).

An older horse to watch is M G Warrior, a 4-year-old Majestic Warrior colt who has won three of his last four starts, including two allowance events last fall at Churchill Downs.

M G Warrior, who worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.20 over a fast track Wednesday morning, is pointing for an opening weekend allowance race, Chapman said, with the hope that he can develop into a candidate for the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 13.

Finish Lines

Multiple stakes winner Amy’s Challenge recorded a sizzling 5-furlong bullet move from the gate (:59.20) Wednesday morning in advance of a scheduled start in the $100,000 American Beauty Stakes for older female sprinters Jan. 26 at Oaklawn. Amy’s Challenge had splits of :34.80 for 3 furlongs, :46.80 for a half-mile and galloped out 6 furlongs in 1:12.60. Trained by Mac Robertson, Amy’s Challenge won the $125,000 Dixie Belle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies last year at Oaklawn. … Also working Wednesday morning was multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Weast Hill, who went 5 furlongs in 1:02.40 for trainer Shea Stuart. … Zia Park Derby winner Nanoosh worked 5 furlongs in 1:03.80 Sunday morning at Oaklawn for trainer Robertino Diodoro, who said he’s pointing the 4-year-old for the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) Feb. 18. The Razorback is the first major local prep for the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 13. … Bravazo is scheduled to ship Friday morning from his Oaklawn base to Florida for the $9 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park, Hall of Fame of trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Monday morning. Lukas said he will personally van the 2018 Oaklawn allowance winner to Florida.