Opening week at Fairplex Park

Well the dirt racing has returned at Fairplex Park at the Los Angeles County Fair and we can't say enough about being able to handicap on the organic stuff. The course has played fair with speed being given the advantage early on. However, come-from-behinders have been fairing okay too so all in all it's been a very fair track from what we have seen. The weather has been awesome and we are looking for exciting days ahead with some great racing and stakes action.

One of the reasons we have always been a fan of this meeting is the racing. There is a vast quantity of shippers coming in from out of state and that brings its fair share of low level claimers to town. Old fashioned racing and race riding as the jockeys and trainers compete for better purse money. This aspect of the game seems to heighten the excitement level and ups the handicapping game to a renewed level as well. One negative aspect of this is that Martin Pedroza always seems to get overbet on everything he rides. Since he tends to ride the best horse in most races, he's a hard guy to beat. However when you do find a competitive horse that Pedroza isn't riding, chances are you'll find good value.

Martin Pedroza has done his early sprint away from the gate and is already well in front in the jockeys race. Doug O'Neill and Peter Miller are going head to head right now in the trainers race.

Opening day offered up the $50,000 Beverly J. Lewis stakes which was won by the Bob Baffert trained Subsidized under Martin Pedroza at $3.80. This daughter of Ghostzapper (Awesome Again) looked good taking the field in this 6 1/2 furlong contest and should be heard from again real soon.

Saturday's $50,000 E. B. Johnston was won by the odds on favorite U R All That I Am under Martin Pedroza for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. The 4-year-old filly was reversing a losing streak of three in a row but looked back to her old self here as she was well bet on at 2-5 to return $2.80.

Sunday's $50,000 Bangles and Beads was won by Via Veneto under Martin Pedroza for trainer Bob Baffert to return $3.20 to her backers. The daughter of Orientate (Mt. Livermore) was winning for the third time in 12 career outings for her owner Donald Dizney.

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