Fairplex Park: Going for a Spin, Pedroza end losing streaks in Johnston; Sunday carryover is $63K

POMONA, Calif. – A small dose of normalcy returned to Fairplex Park on Sunday, where favorites won just one of the 20 Thoroughbred races the first two days of the Los Angeles County Fair, helping to generate a two-day pick six carryover of $63,293 into the Sunday card.

Nonetheless, the feature race on Saturday offered reprieve for two key participants.

The meet’s perennial leading jockey Martin Pedroza ended a 12-race losing streak and consistent mare Going for a Spin ended a nine-race losing streak in the $50,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares.

Going for a Spin trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and assistant Dan Ward, and owned by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, rallied from behind the slow pace set by Logical Single and edged clear to win the mile and a sixteenth race by a length in 1:45.08.

“I was worried about [Logical Single] all along, with her being lone speed,” Ward said. “But he had her close enough, and you don’t have to tell [Pedroza] anything.”

Prior to the Johnston, Pedroza had seven runner-up finishes since winning the sixth race Friday. Going for a Spin was the second win of the meet for Pedroza, who has led the Fairplex jockey standings the last 13 seasons.

Going for a Spin had five runner-up finishes since her most recent victory on Sept. 2, 2011. The Johnston was her fifth win from 23 starts. A 4-year-old by Ministers Wild Cat, she has earned $239,952.

Logical Single finished four lengths clear of third-place Party With Brando. Ms.G. I. Jane, and Silic’s Valley completed the order of finish.

In the feature race Sunday, Pedroza-ridden Mile High Magic will be a popular pick six single in the $50,000 Jim Kostoff Stakes, race 10.

The Bob Baffert trainee is the even-money favorite.