Leading Score stretches out to win Los Alamitos feature

Stretching out in for his first start in three months, Leading Score led throughout to win the $47,035 feature Sunday at Los Alamitos.

Breaking from the inside post in the field of eight under apprentice jockey Evin Roman, the 3-year-old Midnight Lute colt out of the Shameful mare Flying Chevron held off Americanize through the final eighth of a mile to prevail by 1 ¼ lengths.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert for owner-breeders Patti and Hal Earnhardt III, Leading Score completed the mile in 1:36.29 for his second win in five starts. He's earned $73,545.

Third vs. maidens last New Year's Eve in his only other two-turn attempt, Leading Score paid $9.80, $4.40 and $2.80 as the 7-2 third choice.

Americanize, the 13-10 favorite in his first race beyond seven furlongs, returned $2.80 and $2.20 while finishing 3 ¼ lengths in front of 7-2 second choice Shackleford Banks. The show price on Shackleford Banks was $3.20.

The victory completed a double for Roman. The leading rider during the Summer Thoroughbred Festival in July, the 19-year-old Roman tops the standings with seven wins through the first four days of the Los Angeles County Fair meet.

There was one winning ticket in the Pick Six Sunday worth $86,770. Mutuel officials said the ticket was purchased through Racing Gaming Services, a Nevada-based ADW.

Jockey Edwin Maldonado, who had four wins the first two days of the season, was off his mounts Sunday after being dumped in Saturday's second race.

Maldonado was aboard Discreetly Leah, a 3-year-old Discreetly Mine filly trained by Art Sherman, who suffered a fatal leg injury approaching the stretch.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Maldonado was taken to Long Beach Memorial Hospital for evaluation. A CAT scan came back clean, but the rider was still sore Sunday. He expects to return to action when racing resumes Thursday at Los Alamitos.

Source: Los Alamitos Race Course