It wasn't a perfect night for Paco Lopez Thursday night at Delta Downs as he was 0-for-2, finishing eighth with his first mount of the night and third in his second try.But, according to his agent, Jose Garcia, Lopez saw it as a positive night for the simple fact that he was back doing what he loves.“He was very happy to be back,” Garcia said. “You have a rider who, basically, loves to ride horses.”Lopez had not ridden since Sept. 22 at Parx. Afterward he was suspended six months by HISA. Lopez received the suspension after HISA ruled that a whip violation in August at Saratoga aboard Book'em Danno (Bucchero) in the GI Forego Stakes was the last straw. The agreement was reached after Lopez received an indefinite suspension for striking a horse with his whip in the face after the race was over in December of 2024 at Parx Racing. HISA apparently thought he did not hold up his end of the deal.He is allowed to ride in Louisiana because HISA, after losing one of many court fights, has no jurisdiction over racing in that state.Lopez has only picked up five mounts over the next four racing cards at Delta. Garcia said the biggest problem is that he and Lopez have no relationship with most of the trainers at Delta. But Garcia expects that to change.“We don't know anybody here,” Garcia said. “The person giving him the most mounts is Brett Brinkman and I know him because he also runs at Delaware Parks. I've been getting him mounts from persons like that I have a past with. Today [Friday], was the first day he was on the backside. He was in Jersey doing some stuff in his house, then he flew to Miami and then he drove to Delta Downs. I'm already seeing a difference. In the last 10 minutes I got calls from four trainers who want to ride him.Garcia also fielded calls from the Brad Cox and Steve Asmussen stables for two stakes races Nov. 8. He will ride Blue Devil (Uncle Mo) for Asmussen in the $100,000 Treasure Chest Stakes. For Cox, Lopez will be aboard Zaghruta (Gun Runner) in the $100,000 Delta Mile.“He likes to work,” Garcia said. “He wants to ride seven days a week and that's why we were traveling 6 1/2 hours going back and forth to Colonial Downs this summer.”Delta Downs | Coady PhotoBarring a favorable court ruling on his behalf, Lopez's HISA suspension will stay in effect until Mar. 23. Lopez will ride regularly at Delta until Fair Grounds opens Nov. 20. Garcia said he would then work horse in the mornings at Fair Grounds on Mondays and Tuesdays, ride Wednesday night at Delta and then ride the rest of the week at the Fair Grounds. He said he expects to have a big meet at the Fair Grounds.“If you ask me honestly, I think he can be the leading rider,” Garcia said. “Why am I so confident? It's the rider that I have and the work ethic that we both have. The people who train at Fair Grounds love him. We got an amazing response when I started texting people that he was going to ride at the Fair Grounds.”Garcia said Lopez tried to stay positive while originally sidelined by the HISA suspension.“He is a normal person, so he got upset about what they did to him,” the agent said. “But you know what? We're looking forward to continuing. He is a very positive person.”When asked if Lopez, who has been hit with numerous whip violations, had finally learned his lesson, Garcia said that he had but believes Lopez is treated more harshly than most every other jockey by HISA.“I think he has learned his lesson,” Garcia said. “But they judged him for raising the whip over the helmet. But if you look around the country everybody does that. But he's Paco Lopez.”Despite missing over five weeks of riding, Lopez remain the leading rider in the nation with, through Oct. 30, with 300 wins. Irad Ortiz Jr. is next with 278 victories.The post Paco Lopez Goes 0-for-2 In Return, But Is Delighted To Be Back appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.