LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. (AP) — Valdirone swept past Night Badger midway through the stretch and went on to a 1 3/4-length victory in the $46,000 feature on Friday at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by Joe Talamo, Valdirone ran six furlongs in 1:09.12 and paid $4, $2.80 and $2.40 as the even-money favorite.

Night Badger returned $3.80 and $3, while Just Call Me Al was another length back in third and paid $3.60 to show.

The victory, worth $27,600, increased Valdirone’s career earnings to $87,670, with two wins in seven starts.

Apprentice Drayden Van Dyke rode three winners on the card to extend his lead in the jockeys’ standings with two days remaining of the meet. He is trying to become the first apprentice to win a riding title at a Southern California track since the late J.C. Gonzalez at Fairplex Park in 1998.

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