A Systematic Rise for Valdivia, The Tabulator

One is a fresh face within the procession of talented young racehorses and the other an established elder-statesman within the jockey ranks, but both are having a solid symbiotic season in which they have steadily built themselves up into peak form.

The latter is Jose Valdivia, Jr., a winner of more than 1,600 races and $70 million in purses over a two-decade career. The father of two has not only surmounted a mid-career slump, but also overcome a scary spill last fall and subsequent rehabilitation, thriving through a 2017 spring and summer that have seen him win at a 26.5% clip and earn more than $3.5 million in purses. He dominated Arlington standings and now has a rising star 2-year-old going into the Breeders' Cup.

Said luminary is Carolyn Wilson's The Tabulator (Dialed In), who has done little wrong in three wins from as many starts for trainer Larry Rivelli, including a 3/4-length victory in Churchill Downs' GIII Iroquois S. Sept. 16. The dark bay $460,000 OBS March purchase has ascended in class and distance with finesse for his connections and now heads to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, giving them a World Championships runner for the second consecutive in a row.

All three of The Tabulator's efforts and many of his morning works have come with Valdivia in the saddle, including an eye-catching six-furlong work in 1:11.20 on Oct. 18 at Hawthorne Race Course. The work came in company with Grade III winner Wellabled (Shackleford), with whom Wilson and Rivelli finished 10th in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Breaking off five lengths astern his stablemate, the half to stakes-placed Star Via Strada (Street Boss) closed to within two lengths of Wellabled.

“It was a great work and Wellabled is as good a work partner as you can get,” Rivelli said. “He came home really good and this track is great to train on. It's deep and they get a lot out of it.”

The Tabulator worked three furlongs at Del Mar Saturday in :36.60 (1/2). He is joined in California by stablemates Good Bye Greg (Teuflesberg), a stakes-winning Presque Isle track record setter for Patricia's Hope LLC headed to the $200,000 Damascus S. on Breeders' Cup Friday, and Burnside (War Front), a Wilson-owned $595,000 purchase from the same sale who is slated for the $200,000 Qatar Juvenile Turf Sprint on Saturday.

“Carolyn and I have had fabulous luck together,” Rivelli said. “This horse and Burnside are really talented and last year we obviously had Wellabled, who is on the comeback trail. The Tabulator is athletic, smooth and sound and looked the part at the sale and he has developed the way we wanted him to. He won easily first out and then we took him to the ($65,000 Prairie Gold Juvenile) and he beat a good horse in (subsequent stakes winner Mr. Jagermeister (Atta Boy Roy)). Then we took him to Churchill for a real test and he passed it.

“After he won his debut [July 2 at Arlington by nine lengths], I knew he hadn't beat much that day, but it was Valdivia who came back really excited and kept telling me that this horse was a real runner,” Rivelli continued. “Jose has been a huge asset to my operation and is one of the best riders in the country. He's dedicated, studies the films and stays in shape and he knows where to be on the track, while giving you solid feedback.”

Valdivia, in the same stride, knows a good horse when he rides one. A former exercise rider and jockey for Bobby Frankel, he has sat upon the likes of Empire Maker, Sightseek, Medaglia d'Oro and Ghostzapper, whom he guided to his maiden victory.

In The Tabulator he sees a very promising athlete.

“He jumped up from a six-furlong sprint to a route at Churchill Downs with aplomb and he's exciting because he's done everything right,” Valdivia said. “He's just a neat colt and Larry's done an amazing job getting him to relax. This time of year, it's always exciting to have one that can run two turns and I am hoping he becomes an even stronger 3-year-old. Larry has a great eye for young flesh and he has me excited to ride Burnside again, too.”

Despite a trophy case filled from victories in marquee events like the Breeders' Cup Mile, Belmont S., Hollywood Gold Cup, Santa Anita Derby and E. P. Taylor, Valdivia's business fell by the wayside between 2012-2014. Convinced by trainer Wesley Ward to head to Chicago to revamp his career, he joined agent Steve Leving at Arlington and the two have won the last three titles of the five-month meet by 8-, 24- and 84-win margins. Many of those victories in his have come on Rivelli-trained horses and his 141 victories this year established a record.

“I have Wesley, the owners, Larry and Steve to thank,” Valdivia said. “Larry runs horses where they can win and Steve picks the right stock. My confidence has gone through the roof. When you've won a Breeders' Cup and Belmont, you are hungry to get back to those races, so I'm excited to be riding there again.

“The [fractured tibia and fibula] last November definitely was tough, but bones are going to heal and I always try to look at the bright side,” he continued. “I was able to walk again and spend more time with my family. I also got to work the GI Pegasus World Cup for XBTV, which was great because I could see racing from a different point of view. After that, I made a commitment to coming back stronger, both physically and mentally. People gave me a chance and I won with two horses on my first day back at Fair Grounds for Louie [Roussel III] and from there we had a great Arlington.”

Valdivia considers G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Big Jag (Kleven), upon whom he won his first three graded stakes as a jockey and finished third in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, perhaps the fastest horse he has ridden on raw speed, but his favorite ever was Juddmonte Farms' multiple Grade I-winning turf mare Heat Haze (GB) (Green Desert), whom he piloted to victory in the 2003 GI Beverly D. S.

“She was so special and Bobby had so much confidence in me,” Valdivia reflected. “He could have ridden Jerry Bailey or anyone else on [Kentucky] Derby Day, because he had him on Empire Maker in the Derby, but he kept me on. He never questioned if I could handle top horses and that gives you confidence. After we won [the GIII Distaff Turf Mile] that day, he introduced me to Prince Khalid Abdullah and that was a great once-in-a-lifetime experience. Heat Haze was an amazing filly and Bobby was that kind of guy. He taught me so much without trying.

“From working for someone like him, to winning a Belmont and Breeders' Cup and riding at Royal Ascot, I just try to keep it all in perspective,” Valdivia concluded. “I feel blessed to be where I am. You can't script it any better and I feel lucky.”