Barretts at Fairplex: Avare uses speed to take Pomona Derby

POMONA, Calif. – Trainer Doug O’Neill won two races Sunday at the Los Angeles County Fair, including the $50,000 Pomona Derby with Avare, and will enter closing day Sunday having clinched his ninth Barretts at Fairplex training title. O’Neill has 12 wins; Mike Pender has six.

Avare ($21.80) raced gate to wire under Saul Arias to win for the fourth time from 11 starts. He won the Derby by three-quarters of a length over favorite Tree of Life. Second choice Curly Top finished seven lengths farther back in third. Time for the 1 1/16-mile race was 1:44.66.

Arias also won the 12th and final race, which was marred by a spill in which jockey Alonso Quinonez and Julien Couton went down. Both riders were transported from the track by ambulance.

Couton was taken to first aid and then transported to nearby Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center for further examination.

Quinonez was airlifted to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center for examination of a possible head injury.

The incident occurred at the three-sixteenths pole when Quinonez’s mount Bright Town clipped heels. Miss Purple Rain, ridden by Couton, plowed into Bright Town. The original fourth-place finisher I’m No Patsy, ridden by Irving Orozco, was disqualified for pressuring Silver Gun Girl on the far turn, forcing her in and causing Bright Town to clip heels.

Earlier Saturday, favorite Ruby Pumps ($8) won the $50,000 Las Madrinas Handicap under leading rider Martin Pedroza. The win was one of three for Pedroza, who leads Edwin Maldonado, 23-19, going into closing day.

Ruby Pumps, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, won the Las Madrinas for fillies and mares by 1 1/2 lengths over Toomanytomatoes.

Ruby Pumps ($8) was the favorite. The final time was 1:45.76 for 1 1/16 miles.

Sunday is mandatory payout day. The $1 pick nine, which has carried over all meet, will be paid. The carryover is $25,943.