Quindici Man delivers in softer spot
POMONA, Calif. Quindici Man only needed a class drop Saturday at Fairplex Park, where he won the $50,000 by three-quarters of a length over favorite All Saint.
In the supporting feature at the Los Angeles County Fair, the $50,000 for fillies and mares, the former claimer Made for Magic sprang a $17.60 upset.
The victory by Quindici Man ($8) in the 1 1/16-mile Pomona Derby for 3-year-olds ended a season of futility. Quindici Man had battled graded stakes company throughout spring and summer.
"He's been knocking heads with really tough horses all summer," trainer Craig Lewis said. "And the race set up well for him."
Victor Espinoza rode Quindici Man, who saved ground midpack, rallied four wide into the lane, and inched clear in 1:45.37.
All Saint, stretching out from a sprint stakes win, was rank early while rated, and never comfortable. He ran well nonetheless to hold second, 2 1/4 lengths in front of Singer Island. Del Conte set the pace and faded.
Earlier on the card, the Las Madrinas was won by a filly that finished off the board five weeks ago for a $16,000 claiming tag. The 4-year-old Made for Magic has improved dramatically since.
Made for Magic was running for the fourth time in 36 days, while making her third start since trainer A.C. Avila claimed her for $16,000. Omar Berrio rode Made for Magic, who last out on Sept. 12 finished second behind Smooth Performer in the E.B. Johnston Stakes. The Las Madrinas result flatters Smooth Performer, scheduled to run Oct. 3 at Santa Anita in the $100,000 California Cup Matron.
In the Las Madrinas, Berrio positioned Made for Magic second behind easy-pace front-runner Champagne Eyes, collared that one on the far turn, battled head and head on the outside, and inched clear late to win by a neck over Champagne Eyes.
The 8-5 favorite Ashley s Kitty finished 2 1/4 lengths back in third. The stakes win by Avila was exactly seven years since his last Fairplex stakes. That was Manhattan Express in the Gateway to Glory Stakes for 2-year-olds on Sept. 26, 2002.