Pedroza gets 3,000th victory

Jockey Martin Pedroza, who has dominated Fairplex Park the past decade, became the 141st jockey to win 3,000 career Thoroughbred races when he won the first Thoroughbred race of the 2008 Los Angeles County Fair meet Friday at Fairplex.

The leading rider at Fairplex nine consecutive years, Pedroza guided Airplane Attendant ($7.60) from sixth to win the $25,000 maiden-claiming sprint by a neck for trainer Terry Knight. It was the 520th Fairplex victory for Pedroza.

Pedroza, 43, was happy to reach the milestone. "It was very special," Pedroza said. "I wanted to do it at Del Mar, but Pomona has been so good to me over the years." Fairplex racing officials held a brief ceremony after the race to honor Pedroza.