For Immediate release

Contact: Ed Golden

Tyler Baze has never won a riding title in his brief career of three-plus

years, but at Fairplex Park through Thursday, he was only one victory behind

perennial leader Martin Pedroza, 10-9.

"I was second here twice," said the baby-faced Seattle native, who turns 20

on Oct. 19, "but this would be my first."

Baze, whose father Earl and mother Cammie are former jockeys, had to rethink

his riding style when he came to Pomona's five-eighths of a mile track after

traversing the major ovals of one mile and larger.

"It was an adjustment the first year I rode at Fairplex because it's

three-eighths of a mile shorter than a regular track," said Baze, who has

more riders in his family than there are in most jocks' rooms. Not only were

his father and mother jockeys, but second cousin Russell Baze, perennial Bay

Area king, is in the Hall of Fame, uncle Gary Baze is the all-time leader at

Longacres and Dale Baze, Russell's brother, rides in Florida.

"Most tracks are a mile and this is five-eighths," Baze said of Fairplex.

"The first time I rode here was really difficult learning how to ride the

turns and the track, but now it's just like riding a mile track. As far as

winning the title being meaningful to my career, I'm out here to focus on

winning races and that's what I'm going to try to do."

Baze has been given first call on trainer Bill Spawr's horses during the

17-day Pomona season. Riding for such a successful barn gives him an

advantage.

"Spawr's a really nice guy and a good trainer," Baze said. "I'm also riding a

few for Doug O'Neill and John Sadler and a lot of little guys who only have

one or two horses. They help me out, too. Those guys only get a chance to win

a couple races, so I like riding for them. But I like riding for everybody.

My big barn here though, is Spawr. We've got first call on everything for

him."

Although Baze will be barely out of his teens, he is mature enough to

recognize momentum when it builds and negativism that losing can breed. He is

not eagerly awaiting the start of Oak Tree at Santa Anita on Oct. 2.

"Actually, I wish this meet would run all year long," Baze said. "It's a

great track and I don't have to ride against Laffit (Pincay Jr.), Alex Solis

and Pat (Valenzuela). They're riding favorites in every race and I'm the one

riding 10-1 shots trying to get them to run. I get my few (winners against

them) but I get good calls here and I can ride some favorites and it's more

fun. It's not just a case of being a big fish in a small pond. When you win

races it keeps your confidence level high. When you're not winning and a

horse isn't running good, it's hard on a person, it really is. When you do

better, you have a better attitude, better spirits all the time and horses

can feel it. They run harder for you if you're trying harder.

"I'm more comfortable dealing with the media now than I was when I first

started. At first it was kind of a shock. Now, I've been through it all.

"I go race by race and look at the (Daily Racing) Form, and do what the

trainers tell me to do. If a trainer tells me to take back, I'll take back.

If he says go to the lead, I'll go to the lead and see how long the horse

lasts. A lot of trainers don't say anything. They say, 'Ride the horse like

you own him' and I'll ride the best race I can when the gate opens."

FAIRWELLS: Pedroza won four races Thursday to take a 10-9 lead over Baze in

the race for<