Pedroza Starts Holiday Early With Four-Bagger

(from Hollywood Park)
Thanksgiving came a day early for jockey Martin Pedroza, who rode five horses Wednesday at Hollywood Park and guided four of them into the winners' circle.

Pedroza started off by easily capturing the early double, aboard Ghost Memo ($4.20) in the first and Arch Ability ($5.40) in the second. Pedroza connected again in the fourth with his next mount, Validating ($10), and capped off his big day with a three-length win aboard Saint Lorenzo ($4.40) in the sixth.

"Anytime you ride five and win four, it's a very good day," said Pedroza.

His only other mount was aboard the maiden Lipian in the fifth race, where Pedroza finished second at 9-1 to the even money favorite, Quiet Cash.

Wednesday was Pedroza's fourth career four-win day at Hollywood Park, and the first time he has accomplished the feat since Dec. 13, 1996.

His win on Saint Lorenzo gave the combination of owner Michael Gill and trainer Nick Canani their first victory of the Hollywood meet after blanking through seven starts as a tandem.

In the day's featured seventh race, a $80,000 optional claimer, Meteor Storm rallied down the stretch to cruise to a one-length victory. Ridden by Patrick Valenzuela and trained by Wally Dollase, Meteor Storm covered the 1 1/4 miles on the turf in 2:03 2/5 and paid $3.80, $2.60 and $2.40.

(Chart, Equibase)