Pedroza stands alone atop Los Alamitos Thoroughbred standings

CYPRESS, Calif. – Martin Pedroza reached a career milestone with a victory aboard Justin Squared in Thursday’s seventh race at Los Alamitos, becoming the all-time winningest rider at Los Alamitos meetings that are primarily for Thoroughbreds.

In his career, which began in 1982, the 50-year-old Pedroza has won 87 races at Los Alamitos at the former Orange County fair meetings, held from 1977 to 1991, and at daytime Thoroughbred meetings held since 2014 following the closure of Hollywood Park in late 2013.

The list does not include lower-level Thoroughbred races run at 4 1/2 furlongs during the nighttime Quarter Horse meeting here since 1993. Pedroza does not ride those races. Ramon Guce is the all-time leader of those Thoroughbred races, with 997 wins through last Sunday.

Pedroza surpassed Frank Olivares on the all-time list, having tied Olivares last Sunday.

“I’ve been riding here for a long time, so this means a lot to me,” he told Los Alamitos publicity on Thursday.

While Pedroza sits atop the standings, he may recall Thursday’s win as the 3-year-old debut of the highly promising Justin Squared.

Justin Squared ($6) led throughout a six-furlong race, winning by 1 3/4 lengths over the 2-year-old stakes winner Mrazek, who was also making his 3-year-old debut. Justin Squared was timed in 1:08.46 and won in a style that has led trainer Bob Baffert to plan for a stakes in May.

Baffert said on Friday that the $100,000 Laz Barrera Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on May 14 or the $100,000 Chick Lang Stakes for 3-year-olds at six furlongs at Pimlico on May 21 are possibilities.

Owned by Zayat Stables, Justin Squared, by Zensational, beat maidens convincingly in his debut at Del Mar last September.

“We thought he might need one off the layoff, but he didn’t,” Baffert said. “He had some little issues. He needed some time. He’s fast like his daddy. He’s a very aggressive horse to train.”