Pedroza’s Condition Said to Improve

The condition of jockey Martin Pedroza was upgraded from serious to fair Tuesday at Pomona Valley Community Hospital, where Pedroza was admitted Sunday night after his mount fell during the 10th race at Fairplex Park.

Pedroza, 28, third-leading thoroughbred rider in Fairplex history with 157 winners before the current meet began, was on El Toreo when the horse went down in the first turn. Pedroza suffered a lacerated liver; El Toreo completed the course and suffered no apparent injuries.

“He’s progressing nicely, but it’s too early to tell when he’ll be riding again,” Pedroza’s agent, Richie Silverstein, said Tuesday. “He’s expected to be in the hospital at least the rest of this week.”

The cause of the accident remains unknown.

“Martin thinks he was clipped from behind,” Silverstein said. “But the most predominant theory is that the horse’s legs buckled.”