Jockey Jose Valdivia Jr., who suffered bone damage on his right knee during a spill on September 4 at Del Mar, was slated to undergo surgery on Monday to clean up dead tissue from the cartilage and ligaments on his right knee.

"The doctor says that in two weeks I should be fine," Valdivia said. "I can start rehab in three days after the surgery. Hopefully by then the bone will be almost totally healed.

The 31-year-old native of Peru, who despite being disappointed about canceling a scheduled trip to South America, remains in good spirits and has one special reason to celebrate as his wife Renee is expecting their first child in April.

"We are very excited and I was really looking forward to going to Peru this time around," Valdivia said. "I wanted Renee to meet my family there and I wanted to take her to Cuzco."

Valdivia hopes to return in time to ride during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park that opens September 28.—Michael Burns