Patrick Valenzuela Back in the Saddle at Hollywood Park

Patrick Valenzuela is coming back. “He’ll start the first day at Hollywood,” his agent, Tom Knust, said this morning. The Hollywood Park meet begins on Thursday, April 26.

The 49-year-old Valenzuela announced his retirement from riding just over four months ago, but rumors had circulated that he would be making a comeback ever since. He had last ridden on Nov. 13 at Hollywood Park.

“I’m happy to hear it,” said his cousin, former jockey Fernando Valenzuela, 41, now an exercise rider whose big horse is Eclipse Award winner Acclamation. “Patrick is better off when he’s working. He needs to lose four or five more pounds and he’ll be ready. I know he wants to be back to ride Acclamation in the Inglewood.”

That would be the Grade III Inglewood Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Friday, April 27. Valenzuela rode Acclamation in his last two races, the Pacific Classic last Aug. 28 and the Clement L. Hirsch on Oct. 2, both victories, before the 6-year-old California-bred horse was sidelined with a foot bruise.

The Eclipse Award winning outstanding Older Male of 2011, Acclamation worked one mile on Santa Anita’s main track Thursday for trainer Don Warren in 1:40.20 with Fernando Valenzuela aboard.

P. Val, as he is known on the track, began his career in 1978 and has 4,233 victories, highlighted by his triumph in the 1989 Kentucky Derby aboard Sunday Silence.