The winner's circle scene Friday at Fairplex Park was familiar -
trainer Doug O’Neill and jockey Martin Pedroza posing for pictures after
California Nectar ($3) cruised in the $47,500 Beverly J. Lewis Stakes
for 3-year-old fillies.
O’Neill won two races on opening day of the 13-day Los Angeles County
Fair meet, becoming the fourth trainer to win more than 100 races at
the Fair. Pedroza also won two; the all-time leading jockey at Fairplex
ended the card with 643 wins.
California Nectar won easily. Owned and bred by Pablo Suarez, the
daughter of Stormy Atlantic sat second behind Joe Ja, took over passing
the three-sixteenths pole, and won by 3 3/4 lengths over True Way of
Grace. Joe Ja finished third.
Pedroza only had to hold on. “If I fell off, I was going to hear
about it,” he said. No need. California Nectar won the 6 1/2-furlong
race in 1:18.23, her fifth win from 11 starts.
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