Photo: Hollywood Park
E
Z’s Gentleman became a Grade 1 winner with an authoritative victory in the
$250,000 Triple Bend Handicap.
In
the process, the 5-year-old son of Yankee Gentleman and the Distinctive Pro
mare Tensie’s Pro helped jockey Martin Pedroza make some Hollywood Park
history.
The
win for owner Arnold Zetcher and trainer Bob Baffert was the 1,000th
at Hollywood Park for Pedroza, who will turn 45 on
July 20.
The
Panamian-born rider is only the 10th jockey to reach the milestone.
He joins Laffit Pincay, Jr., who leads with 3,049, Bill Shoemaker, Chris
McCarron, Alex Solis, Eddie Delahoussaye, Patrick Valenzuela, Gary Stevens,
Corey Nakatani and John Longden on the exclusive list.
Pincay,
Shoemaker, McCarron, Delahoussaye, Stevens and Longden are in racing’s Hall of
Fame.
It
was also the first win in a Grade 1 at Hollywood Park
for Pedroza.
“When
I used to be in the jock’s room with Shoemaker and McCarron I was the
bambino,’’ said Pedroza. “That’s what Shoemaker used to call me, The Bambino.
“Now
they call me the veteran here. I’m sweating so much because this is like
winning the Santa Anita Handicap or six races in a day. To get my 1,000th
win here in a Grade 1, it means a lot to me.’’
The
win was the fourth in 15 starts for E Z’s Gentleman. He has earned $299,711.
The
7-2 third choice, E Z’s Gentleman paid $9.80, $4.80 and $3.20. Sangaree, the
fourth choice at nearly 6-1 and also trained by Baffert, returned $4.80 and
$2.60. He finished one length in front of 3-2 favorite Gayego. The show price
on Gayego, who had won his two previous starts at Hollywood Park,
was $2.40.
The
final time for seven furlongs over Cushion Track was 1:21.11.
The
win was the second in a row in the Triple Bend for Baffert and the third of his
career. The Hall of Fame trainer won with Zensational in 2009 and with
Letthebighossroll in 1996.
Before
Saturday, Darrell Vienna had been the last trainer to win the Triple Bend in
consecutive years. Vienna
succeeded with Disturbingthepeace (2002) and Joey Franco (2003).