Pheiffer gains revenge in Vacaville Handicap

VALLEJO, Calif. - Pheiffer ($7.80) gained a little revenge as she captured the $50,510 Vacaville Handicap at the Solano County Fair on Saturday.

The 6-year-old mare turned the tables on rival Christmas Time, beating her troubled foe by five lengths while winning the six-furlong race in 1:10.10.

It was the sixth meeting of 2004 between the two and only the second time Pheiffer has finished ahead of her rival. She had lost three straight since winning the Richmond Handicap on Feb. 14.

Pheiffer broke alertly and tracked early leaders Lady Sabrina and Icantgoforthat. She accelerated quickly in the lane to open a clear margin and was never threatened as she scored her eighth victory in 25 career starts for owner Billy Hipwell and trainer Donna Elordi.

Favored Christmas Time lunged at the start while breaking from the rail. She was pinned to the rail by Icantgoforthat and fell back to last at the quarter pole. She rallied strongly in the lane when finally clear but made little impact on the winner.

Pheiffer, who finished second in the Vacaville to Christmas Time's stablemate Lacie Girl after an 11-month layoff last year, earned $27,585 for the victory, increasing her lifetime earnings to $208,335.