Baltas, Pedroza Square Off at Los Alamitos

Jockey Martin Pedroza and trainer Richard Baltas will face a meeting with the stewards after reported verbal and physical confrontations at Los Alamitos Race Course Dec. 21.

According to Santa Anita Park publicity, the incident was apparently spurred because Pedroza had been removed from a Baltas-trained horse at the owners' request. Pedroza had ridden Armensky in his previous start, finishing second by a half length at 12-1 on Nov. 27 at Del Mar.

It started in the first race, in which the favorite, Armensky, trained by Baltas and ridden by the meet's leading rider, Rafael Bejarano, broke from the No. 3 post position in the mile race for $20,000 maiden claimers, and Mojave Desert, ridden by Pedroza, broke from the No. 2 post position. 

Armensky, the 2-5 favorite, finished fifth on Sunday, beaten 12 1/2 lengths by Mojave Desert, who ran fourth.

"Martin told me and (Rafael) Bejarano he was going to take my horse out of the race," Baltas said Monday morning. "The stewards were warned about it.

"After the seventh, I was minding my own business, when he came up to me and started cussing me out, then he bumped me in the chest and I put him in a headlock before security came," Baltas added.

"But before they did, he hit me in the face with his helmet and cut my nose. I'm not a confrontational guy but I am competitive and I was upset. I'm thinking of taking out a restraining order against him and my owners are filing a complaint."

Baltas was treated and had it covered with a bandage Monday.

Pedroza said he came over to Baltas after the seventh when the trainer motioned to him as though he wanted to talk to him, and Baltas bumped his chest. From that point, the incident grew more violent.

Richie Silverstein, Pedroza's long-time agent, had this version. "Baltas called Martin over after the seventh race as if to discuss business. The next thing you know, Baltas had Martin in a headlock and security was called to break it up. Martin did hit him with his helmet, but it was in self defense. 

"The police came and suggested Martin file a restraining order against Baltas. There's no need to take sides here. Everyone there saw what happened."