Lipstick City a sharp winner in Christmas Past Stakes

A lively pace and ground-saving trip helped Lipstick City rally to a convincing 3 1/4-length victory over Conquest Hardcandy in Thursday’s $75,000 Christmas Past Stakes. Temple Fur finished another head back in third.

Lipstick City, a 4-year-old daughter of City Zip, raced at the rear of the seven-horse field for six furlongs under jockey Miguel Vasquez before slipping up the rail through the stretch to readily overtake the leaders inside the eighth pole and win going away.

Conquest Hardcandy won an early speed duel with Lover’s Key but proved no match for the winner while doing well to hold on for second money in the one-mile turf stakes for fillies and mares.

Spanish Harlem, the 8-5 favorite, finished fourth after being challenged for command in early stretch.

Lipstick City returned $9.20 for her third win in 10 career starts.

“It was great, everybody moved early, fanned out, and she wound up getting a beautiful trip,” winning trainer David Fawkes said.