His Southern California business slumping, jockey Drayden Van Dyke relocated South Florida this summer, hopeful that teaming with successful Florida trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. would rejuvenate his riding career.

It did, plus it brought him back to California, where Nov. 2, he was warmly greeted by fans seeking autographs and photos as he walked to a post-race press conference after riding the Joseph-trained Soul of an Angel to a late-rallying upset victory in the PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

Drayden Van Dyke after winning Filly & Mare Sprint. (Eclipse Sportswire)

“This is my favorite racetrack to be at,” he said of Del Mar. “It’s special to me. I won two riding titles here. I won seven in one day here, so this place is special to me.

“To get a Breeders’ Cup here is icing on the cake.”

Joseph credited his owners — C2 Racing Stable, Agave Racing Stable, and Ken Reimer — for having the faith to ride Van Dyke in the Breeders’ Cup.

“They were good enough to leave Drayden on the horse. He won the Princess Rooney,” Joseph said of Gulfstream Park’s prep for the Filly & Mare Sprint. “It was always set in stone we wanted to keep him on. We just wanted to weigh all our options.

“Look at Drayden. I reached out him earlier this year to come over to Gulfstream. We needed a rider. He said he wasn’t doing well. Come and give us a try.”

Van Dyke, who during the best period of his career was one of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s most utilized jockeys, took a break last fall to deal with mental health struggles. He resumed riding early this year.

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“I’ve learned a lot. It’s how this game is. You’re not always on top. Rare few guys stay on top,” he said. “There’s a lot of ups and downs. You got to get out of ’em. You always need support from some people. You got to be given opportunities. I’m super thankful for what Saffie has done for me.”

The 30-year-old Van Dyke knows full well how mental health can impact a person and a family. His father, Seth, who worked in the racing industry as a jockey, exercise rider, and valet, battled depression, and died of an apparent suicide in Florida in August 2014.

“But the time I took off, I just personally felt I needed it. I’ve been going nonstop since I was 18. I lost my father at [19]. I just kept going, kept going, kept going,” he continued. “I never took time to really mourn and process everything. I took the time off for myself, you know?”

Time off that paid off, resulting in his second Breeder’s Cup win after first guiding Stormy Liberal to victory in the 2018 Breeder’s Cup Turf Sprint.

Editor’s Note: Access to suicide prevention services and support are available to those experiencing mental health struggles and emotional distress. One option is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).