Fairplex Park: Pedroza not seriously injured in spill
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
Martin Pedroza escaped serious injury in a spill Wednesday evening at Fairplex Park, and the track’s all-time leading jockey was expected to resume riding Friday or Saturday.
Pedroza was unseated on the clubhouse turn of the seventh race, where his mount, Warren’s Tyler S, appeared to drift out and clip heels with Slippery Slewp. Pedroza went over the top, was thrown hard to the ground, and may have been stepped on by his horse.
The 47-year-old rider was transported to nearby Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center and underwent X-rays that were negative, according to his agent, Richie Silverstein.
“No broken bones. He’s got bumps and scrapes and bruises, and is sore,” Silverstein said Thursday.
Pedroza, who has 691 wins at Fairplex and led the standings the last 13 seasons, took off all his mounts Thursday and his first three mounts Friday. He must receive medical clearance before he resumes riding. He was scheduled for an examination Friday. Silverstein said “Saturday is a more realistic target” for a return.
Pedroza faces an uphill climb in his attempt to lead the standings for a 14th straight year at the Los Angeles County Fair. Through Wednesday, he had five wins. The track’s leading rider was Edwin Maldonado, with nine.
◗ Winding Way, winner of the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo at Del Mar, was one of two Carla Gaines-trained runners to recently test positive for excessive levels of testosterone. Winding Way tested positive after winning a first-level allowance July 21; A Little Luckier tested positive after a runner-up finish at Betfair Hollywood Park on July 14.
According to a California Horse Racing Board release, hearings for Gaines, disqualifications of the two horses, and a purse redistribution are pending.