Big Fresno Fair finishes fast

The Big Fresno Fair ended what was a strong year for the fairs with a bang Sunday, handling $2,080,299 on the 13-race card, which handed out purses totaling $255,730.

Baze was the big winner, riding Bold Chieftain to victory in the Bull Dog as well as Longview Drive in the $75,960 Charlie Palmer Futurity.

His best ride may have come aboard Mr. Munsey in a 1 1/4-mile starter allowance race. Baze got Mr. Munsey up by a nose over Best Verse after the two battled down the stretch.

Baze won four races Sunday, claiming the riding title with 19 victories from 51 mounts. He also had 11 seconds and 7 thirds. Runner-up was Juan Hernandez, who scored with 12 of his 37 mounts. Aaron Gryder, who won the Golden Gate Fields summer meet, was third with nine wins.

There was a three-way tie in the trainer’s race with Golden Gate summer meet champion Steve Sherman, Andy Mathis and John Martin each saddling six winners. Sherman’s six winners came from only 15 starters, and he also had five seconds and a pair of thirds. Mathis, who also had seven second-place finishes, sent out 25 starters and Martin 29.