Quinonez extends hot hand by winning Hinds aboard Cayambe

POMONA, Calif. – Jockey Alonso Quinonez is on a roll heading into the lucrative fall racing season.

Quinonez, 26, rode longshot Cayambe to a $53.40 front-running upset Sunday at Fairplex Park in the marquee race of the Los Angeles County Fair meet, the $75,000 Ralph M. Hinds Handicap.

The stakes was the second of the weekend for Quinonez, following the Las Madrinas Handicap on Saturday. And the best is yet to come. Quinonez will ride top contenders in two Grade 1 races Saturday at Hollywood Park – Tell a Kelly in the Oak Leaf Stakes and Richard’s Kid in the Goodwood Stakes.

Quinonez ended the Sunday card at Fairplex with 13 winners, second in the standings. Quinonez ranked seventh at Del Mar, and is establishing himself as a mainstay on the Southern California circuit.

“I’m working hard, being nice to people, and my agent is doing a great job,” Quinonez said.

In the 1 1/8-mile Hinds, Quinonez took over early on Cayambe, set the pace, and held by a head over Quindici Man. Red Door Drive, half of the favored entry with Spurrier, finished a nose back in third. The time of the race was 1:51.36.

Hey Elvis bled and was pulled up.

Cayambe is trained by Victor Garcia and owned by Lucky Charm Stable. A 6-year-old gelding, Cayambe was claimed for $25,000 in July 2009. He was off until an upset comeback win April 18 at Santa Anita, and has won 3 of 6 this year.

The upset by Cayambe helped generate a pick six carryover into Monday. The pick six carryover amount is $45,708. Because Monday is closing day of the Fair meet, it also is a mandatory payout day.