Hollywood Park: Logical Single helps Pederson feel at home by upsetting Fran's Valentine Stakes

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Former Northern California-based trainer Dean Pederson is relocating to Southern California, so the $16.60 upset by Logical Single in the $73,550 Fran’s Valentine Stakes on Sunday at Hollywood Park was well-timed.

One day after Pederson and his wife Susie made a purchase offer on a home in nearby El Segundo, Logical Single gave Pederson his first win of the Hollywood spring-summer meet with a half-length victory over favorite Lady Railrider.

Chantal Sutherland rode Logical Single in the mile turf race for California-bred fillies and mares. She survived a jockey’s objection. Joe Talamo, on Lady Railrider, claimed the winner drifted out in the stretch and cost his mount the chance at a better placing. Stewards allowed the original order to stand.

Sutherland positioned Logical Single second behind a fast pace set by Jax El, rallied to the lead in midstretch, drifted out, and held by a diminishing half-length in 1:34.56. Jax El tired to third, while 2010 Fran’s Valentine winner U R All That I Am finished fourth.

The win was the fifth in 13 starts for Logical Single, who has earned $198,652 for owner-breeder Harris Farms. Logical Single, a 4-year-old filly, is the leading money earner by the stallion Singletary. It was Sutherland’s meet-leading seventh turf win of the meet from 24 mounts.

Pederson currently has 10 horses in training at Hollywood, and eight in Northern California. He expects to be stabled exclusively in Southern California by July 1.