Barretts at Fairplex: Blueskiesnrainbows wins Ralph M. Hinds Handicap
POMONA, Calif. – The 4-year-old colt Blueskiesnrainbows and 48-year-old jockey Martin Pedroza both returned to top form this fall at the Los Angeles County Fair race meet.
Pedroza guided Blueskiesnrainbows ($7.60) to a four-length win Sunday in the $100,000 Ralph M. Hinds Handicap on closing day of the 13-day meet at Barretts at Fairplex, where Pedroza regained his status as top jockey.
The runner-up in the standings a year ago, Pedroza won the 2013 title despite missing three days following a spill Sept. 14. Pedroza, who led the standings for 13 straight years (1999-2011), finished the meet with 25 wins. Pedroza is the all-time leading rider at Fairplex with 730 wins.
The Hinds was expected to be a showdown between Clubhouse Ride and Oilisblackgold. The showdown did not materialize. Clubhouse Ride finished a disappointing fourth as the 2-1 favorite; Oilisblackgold scratched with an unspecified setback.
Blueskiesnrainbows and Pedroza set the pace with token pressure from El Commodore and Endorsement before breaking it open into the lane. Fire With Fire finished second, 2 3/4 lengths in front of third-place Shadow Runner.
The order of finish was completed by Clubhouse Ride, Lucky Primo, El Commodore, and Endorsement. The final time for 1 1/8 miles was 1:51.59.
Jerry Hollendorfer trains Blueskiesnrainbows, whose previous stakes win was the Grade 2 Swaps Stakes in 2012 while trained by Bob Baffert. Blueskiesnrainbows, by English Channel, has won five races and $368,002 from 19 starts.
Oilisblackgold, unbeaten in two starts at Barretts, “had a little setback,” trainer Craig Dollase said. It was unclear Sunday if the setback would prevent Oilisblackgold from a fall campaign. “We’ll see,” Dollase said. “We’ll know in a few days.”
Last year’s leading rider, Edwin Maldonado, finished second in the standings with 20 wins. Trainer Doug O’Neill led the Fairplex standings for the ninth time, saddling 13 winners. He ranks fourth in track history with 123 wins.