Pedroza held by police, freed

Jockey Martin Pedroza, who won his fifth consecutive riding title at Fairplex Park in Pomona, Calif., on Sunday, missed 10 rides last Friday after being arrested on a misdemeanor battery warrant stemming from an altercation outside a bar earlier this year.

Pedroza, 38, was held for several hours by the police in Temple City, Calif., near Santa Anita. According to his agent, Richie Silverstein, a warrant was issued for Pedroza's arrest because he failed to file paperwork related to anger management classes he had been ordered to complete in March after an early-morning incident that month, Silverstein said.

"It stems from one night out on St. Patrick's Day," Silverstein said. "He had a slight altercation in the parking lot of a pub. It being St. Patrick's Day's and 12:45 a.m., they arrested him. It's not as severe as some people make it."

Silverstein said Pedroza was released on a $26,000 bond. Pedroza is booked to ride three horses Wednesday at Santa Anita.