Nonios pulls upset to win Affirmed Handicap

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Nonios defeated Liaison by a half-length to win the $100,000 Affirmed Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park on Sunday.

Ridden by Martin Pedroza, Nonios ran 1 1-16 miles on the Cushion Track in 1:42.99 and paid $33.80, $10 and $4.60 at 15-1 odds.

Liaison returned $3 and $2.40 as the even-money favorite while losing for the first time in three starts on the synthetic surface for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. It was the colt’s first start since finishing sixth in the Kentucky Derby on May 5.

Holy Candy was another 1 1-4 lengths back in third and paid $2.60 to show. Gun Boat, also trained by Baffert, finished fifth.

Trainer by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, Nonios has three wins in four career starts and earnings of $99,000. He was making his first start away from Golden Gate Fields in Northern California.

Hollendorfer won the Affirmed for the first time in 2003 with Eye of the Tiger, while Pedroza won it in 2008 with Two Step Salsa.