Columnist Ralph Siraco: From coast to coast, a firecracker weekend

Ralph Siraco

Monday, July 7, 2003 | 8:48 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday.

Now that the more than 250,000 visitors have come, conquered and left Las Vegas, reflections of some noteworthy performances at the country's racetracks during the Fourth of July holiday weekend. All in full view at Las Vegas race books throughout the holiday programs.

While there is a changing of the guard at the jockey colony in Southern California, a rejuvenated Patrick Valenzuela seems to be using his "last chance" in the saddle to full advantage. P. Val -- as he is called -- began his riding career at the time when Chris McCarron, Eddie Delahoussaye and Laffit Pincay Jr., were in their hey day. Several battles with substance abuse had derailed Valenzuela from taking his rightful place with such talented reinsmen. However, as McCarron, Delahoussaye and Pincay left what used to be the toughest riding circuit on the continent, Valenzuela battle his personal demons and has re-entered the scene renewed and making up for lost time.

Since he was reinstated on opening day at the Santa Anita meeting of 2001-02, Valenzuela has climbed to the top of the jockey colony, having won several meet standings. He bagged a five-win day on Saturday at Hollywood Park and is on his way to winning that track's spring-summer title. Through Sunday, P. Val has a 13-victory lead over Victor Espinoza in the jockey standings with two weeks left to the session.

At the beginning of the spring meeting at Churchill Downs, there was a newspaper headline pinned on the bulletin board in the jockey's room that read: "There's a new sheriff in town." That reference was of jockey Cornelio Velasquez and intended for perennial leader Pat Day. Day had been the leading rider at the famous Kentucky racetrack for a long time. But, when the season came to an end on Sunday, the young Panamanian upstart, riding his first meeting at the Louisville oval, won the jockey title with 63 victories. Velasquez, 34, plans a return to Calder race course in Florida and then moves on to Saratoga when the upstate New York spa opens it's meeting in late July. Maybe there will be a new sheriff at the spa.

Now the equines.

Candy Ride, a 4-year-old import from Argentina, remained undefeated while winning his second stateside race in Friday's American Handicap at Hollywood Park and paid $4 to win. Versatile Ron McAnally trainee recorded victory number five, his third on turf, and jockey Gary Stevens thinks he could be something special. McAnally agrees, saying Candy Ride might be the best horse he has ever trained.

Balto Star, making his seventh career turf start, took a Grade I field of turf specialists gate-to-wire to win the $750,000 United Nations Handicap over the Monmouth Park lawn on Saturday. The Todd Pletcher trainee set a course record of 2:12:3 for the 1 3/8ths miles under Jose Velez, Jr., and returned $76 for the upset.

Mineshaft move to the top of the handicap division--again. The 4-year-old son of 1992 Horse Of The Year A.P. Indy won the 117th Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park on Saturday with scary ease. In winning his fifth race from seven starts this year, Mineshaft disposed of Breeders' Cup Classic winner Volponi and millionaire Dollar Bill. Next stop on the Mineshaft road-to-the-Breeders' Cup is a likely start in the Sept. 6 Woodward Stakes back at Belmont Park.

Irish invader Dimitrova benefited from a perfect trip to win the $750,000 American Oaks over the Hollywood Park lawn on Saturday. Jockey David Flores placed the Dermont Weld trainee in a stalking position early in the 1 1/4 miles feature and reached the leaders at the head of the homestretch, where she finished strong to win by 2 lengths. She paid $11.20 for the win. She may return stateside for the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita on October 25.

At Arlington Park on Saturday, Ballingarry took a closer step back to the Breeders' Cup with a workmanlike victory in the Stars And Stripes Handicap. The 4-year-old son of Sadler's Wells got a perfect trip from Arlington's leading rider Rene Douglas to prevail by a dwindling margin. Vindicating a 7th place finish over the Arlington turf when beaten in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf, the Laura De Seroux trainee may be heading back for another go at Oak Tree this fall. He paid $3.20 for the win.