Pedroza sets record on Fairplex opener

By BRAD FREE

POMONA, Calif. - Martin Pedroza put on a one-man show Friday at Fairplex Park, where he became the first jockey to win seven races on one card at the Los Angeles County Fair.

The all-time leading rider at Fairplex Park with 526 wins, Pedroza capped his seven-bagger with a nose victory on Trevor's Clever in the $65,000 Jim Kostoff Stakes. It was Pedroza's 58th stakes win at Fairplex Park, four behind all-time leader David Flores.

"I ride the best horses over here [at Fairplex], and sometimes you have to get lucky," Pedroza said. "Today was a lucky day."

In race 2, Pedroza scored career win No. 3,000 on Airplane Attendant ($7.60) for trainer Terry Knight. He followed with Ghostrapper ($3.80) in race 5, Kula Girl ($3) in race 6, pick-up mount Mandate Habit ($7.20) in race 7, One Track Mind ($3.60) in race 9, Bad Boy ($7.20) in race 11, and Trevor's Clever ($6.40) in the Kostoff.

Pedroza rode all 12 Thoroughbred races. He finished second in races 2 and 3, and third in race 13. In the Kostoff, a 1 1/16-mile stakes formerly called the Derby Trial, Trevor's Clever rallied from last to win by a nose over pacesetter Wink At the Girls.

Trevor's Clever is trained by Ted H. West and is expected to return Sept. 20 in the $100,000 Pomona Derby.

"That was our plan all along," West said.

Baze, Martinez not seriously injured

Early on the card, jockeys Tyler Baze and Michael Martinez escaped serious injury in a bizarre spill soon after start of race 4. Racing seven furlongs, Baze was unseated when Yoursmynanours ducked inward at the gap leading to the main track, jumped over the inner rail, and ran loose in the infield for 10 minutes.

Martinez, riding Just Miss, also was unseated at the gap. Both riders were taken to nearby Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center where they were X-rayed and released. Neither jockey rode again Friday; Martinez would have ridden race 4 winner Mandate Habit, who was ridden instead by Pedroza.