Valenzuela hires veteran agent Pegram
Thoroughbred Times
Posted: 10/10/06

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela on Tuesday hired Southern California-based veteran agent Jim Pegram to represent him exclusively, replacing Tom Knust, who also represents Corey Nakatani.

Pegram previously booked mounts for Valenzuela in 1995. Knust began representing Nakatani this summer when Valenzuela was sidelined with back pain.

"Sworn in at Santa Anita this morning," Pegram said. "I think Pat just wanted somebody to work solely for him."

Pegram had been booking mounts for Norberto Arroyo Jr., who shifted his tack from New York to California this summer.

"He came back from New York with me," Pegram said, in reference to a stint in New York earlier this year when had Kent Desormeaux's book. "I just informed him I'm going to work for Pat, so he'll have a new agent tomorrow.

Through Tuesday, Valenzuela ranks third in the rider standings at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park, with seven wins from 51 mounts.—Myra Lewyn