Injuries and a suspension levied by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) have limited Paco Lopez's mounts over the last several months, but he is healthy again, has served his suspension and is ready to resume his career. Lopez will begin his comeback on Apr. 1 at Tampa Bay Downs, reports his agent, Jose Garcia.Lopez received a six-month suspension from HISA Sept. 23. In announcing the suspension, HISA issued a statement, which read: “The suspension stems from Mr. Lopez's violation of the terms of his conditional reinstatement, related to a Dec. 4, 2024 incident involving Mr. Lopez's use of the riding crop on the Covered Horse, National Law.”That suspension has now expired.Lopez eventually resurfaced, first at Delta Downs, and then at Fair Grounds. He was able to ride there because tracks in Louisiana do not fall under the jurisdiction of HISA. Lopez won 45 races at the Fair Grounds, but was sent to the sidelines again after suffering a broken ankle in a spill Feb. 7.Garcia reports that his jockey has recovered from the broken ankle and started galloping horses earlier this week at Gulfstream Park.“He is doing amazing,” Garcia said. “He's out there at six o'clock in the morning galloping horses. He's been galloping horses for Jorge Delgado and Kelly Breen and he's been going crazy. He's like a kid in a candy store.”After accepting assignments at Tampa Apr. 1, Lopez will begin riding regularly at Gulfstream and will stay there until Monmouth Park opens May 9. According to Garcia, he will venture to Aqueduct Apr. 4 to ride 2025 Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Book 'em Danno (Bucchero) in the GII Carter Handicap. It will be the first start of the year for the New Jersey-bred star, Garcia said that Lopez is also scheduled to ride Mad House (Vekoma) in the GIII Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Apr. 11.Once Lopez returns to the Mid-Atlantic region, he will continue to ride as many races as he can at as many racetracks as possible. It was a hectic schedule that had him in the running for leading rider before his suspension.Lopez has been the top jockey for seven consecutive years at Monmouth and was also leading rider last year at Colonial Downs. Once Colonial opens June 25. Garcia said that will be Lopez's main focus.“We'll do what we did last year,” the agent said. “He's going to ride at Gulfstream all the way through to May 8, the day before opening day at Monmouth. Then he's going to fly into Monmouth for opening day. We will be at Monmouth until June 25. Between that, he will ride at Parx and maybe some at Delaware Park But we're going to be more based at Colonial. He'll probably ride there two, three days a week and maybe one or two days a week at Monmouth. We have a lot of good clients at Colonial, and he did amazingly there last year for the first time he ever rode at that track.”The post Paco Lopez Set To Return Apr. 1 At Tampa, Will Ride “Danno” In The Carter appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.