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Pomona, Calif. (Sept. 7, 2008) - Martin Pedroza just keeps rolling along at Fairplex Park, winning seven more races on Sunday's 11-race program.
That feat equals the Fairplex record, which Pedroza set on opening day last Friday when he guided another seven horses into the charmed circle.
Pedroza took a mild breather on Saturday, winning only three races.
He now has won 17 races in three days. At the recently concluded Del Mar meet, Pedroza won a total of 16 races, good for seventh in the jockey standings.
His seven winners on both Friday and Sunday put him in elite company in California. Only Laffit Pincay, Jr., and Victor Espinoza have ridden that many winners on a single program in the state.
Pedroza's winners included Lunch Time ($2.80), Bright Abyss ($6.20), Bellacton ($3.80), Gray Black N White ($5), Going Forward ($3.80), Kirby's Glue Foot ($26.40) and Topper Shopper ($5.40), victorious in the $63,050 Foothill Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs for 3-year-olds.
Normally a front-runner, Topper Shopper had to concede the lead to 20-1 longshot Slokkie who set a sizzling pace, going 21.49 and 45.09.
But at the top of the stretch, Topper Shopper, who had been stalking the leader, forged to the front and won easily by 4 ½ lengths in 1:16.21.
Ford Island, the longest shot in the six horse field at 49-1, finished second with In The Forecast third.
"I was really surprised we weren't on the lead," said winning trainer Bill Spawr. "But you can do anything you want with him. He's really been a nice horse since we got him)."
Spawr claimed Topper Shopper for $80,000 on May 14 at Hollywood Park for weight loss guru Jenny Craig and the estate of Sid Craig.
*Bai and Bai made a successful return to the races, winning the $63,050 E.B. Johnston Stakes by 1 ¾ lengths in 1:44.42 for 1 1/16 miles as the 4-5 favorite.
Bai and Bai, who hadn't raced since winning the Foster City Handicap at Bay Meadows on March 1, stalked Chocolate Lava for the first half-mile, then opened a four length advantage into the stretch and held off the late charging Dona Amelia. Petite Cherie was third, another 4 ½ lengths behind.
"She really likes this track," said winning jockey Aaron Gryder. "She can get around these turns really well. I wanted to be right on the flank of (Martin) Pedroza (Chocolate Lava). I didn't want him to steal it.
"Down the backside, I just let her gallop up to the leader, and then she put her head in front and began to open up. She got a little tired at the end, but she hasn't been out for six months."
*Racing continues Monday at Fairplex with free admission, free parking and a free program for all on-track patrons.
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