Fashionably Fast notches first stakes win in Harris Farms

Fashionably Fast ($4.80), edged in the final strides as the favorite in the 2018 Harris Farms Stakes, was not to be denied this year when he rallied nicely for his third straight victory and initial stakes win in the $100,000 Harris Farms at the Big Fresno Fair on Saturday.

The victory was sweet for owner/breeder John Harris of Harris Farms after the 4-year-old Lucky Pulpit gelding was nipped at the wire last year after leading in the stretch.

This year, he sat in a nice stalking position as undefeated 3-year-old Baja Sur and My Friend Emma, who was supplemented into the Golden State Series to be eligible for the race dueled from the moment the gate opened.

Baja Sur, who drew the rail, broke alertly and was a head in front of My Friend Emma, who drew the outside post, in a 23.17-second opening quarter.

Fashionably Fast, under regular jockey Tiago Pereira, sat in third despite breaking a step slowly.

My Friend Emma held a one-length lead at the quarter pole and increased it to a 1 1/2-length advantage by the eighth pole.

Fashionably Fast, was kept in the clear four wide and dug in when asked. Unleashing a strong kick, he wore down the leaders and defeated Baja Sur, who was meeting older for the first time, by three-quarters of a length in 1:10.52.

My Friend Emma was unable to hold off the top pair but was an easy third.

Co-owned by Per Antonsen and John Nicoletti with Harris Farms, Fashionably Fast earned $57,000 to increase his lifetime earnings to $242,745 with four wins in 13 career starts. He is trained by Dean Pederson.