Fairplex: Asong for Billy looks sharp

POMONA, Calif. - An emphatic 1 3/4-length victory in the $100,000 Pomona Derby at Fairplex Park stamped Asong for Billy ($12) as a 3-year-old with vast potential.

Asong for Billy, a lightly raced colt, overcame a wide trip behind slow fractions to win the about 1 1/8-mile race in 1:50.12 under jockey Iggy Puglisi. Splendid Times set a slow pace and held second, three lengths in front of Sunkosi. Paxtecum, the 2-1 favorite, was wide throughout and ran third. Asong for Billy, an Unbridled's Song colt claimed by trainer Paul Aguirre for $40,000, was winning his third straight for his new stable.