FAIRPLEX : Almeida Has a Winning Trip

He had flown in from Japan the day before, so it was understandable that when Goncalino Almeida was asked about his trip Sunday afternoon, his response was simple.

“The trip was nice, very nice,” the 38-year-old Brazilian said.

He wasn’t aware that the question pertained to his trip around the small Fairplex Park track in Pomona, and he laughed out loud, somewhat embarrassed, when told.

But both trips were excellent. Almeida, riding Pollock’s Luck, took charge down the stretch and crossed the wire a half-length in front of Flying Sensation to win the $150,000 Ralph M. Hinds Pomona Invitational Handicap, the meet’s richest race.

It was the ninth victory at Fairplex for Almeida, who didn’t ride there from Sept. 22-29 while on a promotional trip to Japan.

Alex Solis, who flew back from Japan with Almeida to ride Nancys French Fry, didn’t even wait for the question.

“A horrible trip, a bad trip,” the jockey said.

Nancys French Fry, the even-money favorite, was caught in traffic at the rail from the outset and was unable to get clear until late in the stretch run, and finished third.

“I tried to get in the clear, but every time I would try to go outside somebody would push me back in,” a disgusted Solis said.

Pollock’s Luck, a 4-year-old colt owned by Virginia Knott Bender and trained by Richard J. Cross, was the second choice at 4-1.