Stute Begins Another Run for Fair Title

Mel Stute, who has won 156 races, more than any other trainer at the Los Angeles County Fair, launches the 62nd racing season at Pomona today by running two horses, one of them Warren’s Whistle in the co-feature, the $50,000 Bustles and Bows Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

Stute and Paul Aguirre saddled nine winners apiece to share last year’s training title at Fairplex Park. Stute has won or shared six titles in Pomona, the first coming in 1971. He set the Pomona record for meet wins in 1986, winning 13 races during an 18-day season.

This year’s 18-day mixed-breed meet runs through Oct. 1. There are no dark days at Fairplex, where opening day a year ago was marred by the death of jockey J.C. Gonzalez, who went down in a spill. In an unusual juxtaposition, Gonzalez’s family has filed a wrongful-death suit against three veterinarians and the owners and trainer of the horse their son rode, yet on Saturday family members are expected to attend a dedication ceremony of the first J.C. Gonzalez Memorial Jockey Trophy, which was won last year by Martin Pedroza, the meet’s leading rider.

“[Fairplex Park] is not in the eye of the storm,” said Neil O’Dwyer, equine general manager at the track. “The focus [of the suit] is on the condition of the horse.”

In today’s other stake, the $50,000 Foothill for 3-year-olds, Warren Stute, Mel’s brother, will saddle Grey Memo, who is making his first start since running fourth in the Swaps at Hollywood Park on July 23. Grey Memo, who has won four of 13 starts, broke his maiden at Fairplex last year.

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Fairplex Park Meeting

* Dates: Daily, today through Oct. 1.

* First post: Noon.

* Richest stakes: Sept. 23, $100,000 Barretts Debutante for 2-year-old fillies; Sept. 24, $100,000 Barretts Juvenile for 2-year-old colts and geldings; Sept. 29, $100,000 Las Madrinas Handicap for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up; $100,000 Pomona Derby for 3-year-olds; $100,000 Ralph M. Hinds Pomona Invitational Handicap for 3-year-olds and up.

* Last year’s leaders: Trainers Mel Stute and Paul Aguirre, nine wins apiece; jockey Martin Pedroza, 29 wins.

* Records: Most wins, trainer, Mel Stute, 13, 1986; jockey, David Flores, 48, 1991.