Barretts at Fairplex: City by the Bay much the best in Barretts Debutante
POMONA, Calif. – City by the Bay trounced nine rivals Saturday in the $100,000 Barretts Debutante at the Los Angeles County Fair, winning the 6 1/2 furlong race by 8 3/4 lengths.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez and trained by Bill Morey, City by the Bay ($4.60) was making only her second career start following a dominant maiden win at Santa Rosa. Morey deferred credit.
“I’m just a spectator, it’s the filly,” Morey said. “I’m the lucky guy that gets to watch her go.”
Morey, and owners Martin Bach and Jack Owens, purchased City by the Bay, a daughter of City Zip, for $40,000 at the Barretts May sale of 2-year-olds in training. City by the Bay earned $55,000 Saturday and has earned $70,170.
“Obviously she is the real deal,” Morey said.
Breaking from the inside post, City by the Bay dueled early with Side Letter, shook off her early pace rival to set the pace with a half-mile in a quick 45.91 seconds, broke open the race on the far turn, and rolled home in 1:17.94.
Harlington’s Rose finished second; Perched finished third.
While the winner avoided trouble, the first turn was a nightmare for 3-1 second choice Meinertzahageni. She steadied off the heels of Pay the Debt on the first turn and veered out. Jockey Alex Bisono, filling in for Martin Pedroza, pulled up Meinertzhageni on the backstretch.
As for the winner, Morey said no plans have been made for City by the Bay.
“It sounds like a typical trainer answer, but we haven’t looked past this race,” he said.
Pedroza injured in spill
The meet’s leading rider, Martin Pedroza, was injured Saturday in a spill in race 6, and after winning race 8, he took off the remainder of his mounts. His status for Sunday is undetermined.
Pedroza was unseated when his mount, Our Classic Trip, was sandwiched on the backstretch of the half-mile race. Our Classic Trip stumbled, and sent Pedroza tumbling to the ground. He returned to ride the winner of race 7, but was limping noticeably afterward and took off.
Pedroza won three races Saturday and leads the standings with 18 winners, nine more than Edwin Maldonado, who also had three wins.