Vaca City Flyer looks like a standout

POMONA, Calif. - Vaca City Flyer appears so dominant Friday at Fairplex Park that the $65,000 Pio Pico Stakes was removed from the pick-six sequence and shuffled way back to race 5.

Pick-six bettors still have a "free spot" in race 13, a maiden-claiming race in which Quick Honey looks like an even-money standout. Vaca City Flyer's odds will not be much higher in the Pio Pico.

"They're not all afraid of me, are they?" trainer Art Sherman asked. Well, yes. Only five California-bred fillies and mares entered the 6 1/2-furlong sprint; Vaca City Flyer has won more races (14) than the rest of the field combined (13).

Vaca City Flyer is 6-5 on the early Fairplex morning line; front-runner Kalookan Dancer is the 9-5 second choice. Referring to Kalookan Dancer, Sherman said, "She looks like the filly to beat."

At very least, Kalookan Dancer is the filly to catch.

Kalookan Dancer raced gate to wire in a second-level allowance last out at Del Mar, and seeks her first stakes win Friday.

Valid's Valid, Rocket Kitty, and Camelita also entered the Pio Pico, in which Vaca City Flyer will try to end a six-race skid.

"She's lost a stride or two, but look who she's been running against," Sherman said.

In her most recent start, Aug. 24 at Bay Meadows, Vaca City Flyer missed by a nose to graded stakes winner Victorina.

Jim Vlahos owns Vaca City Flyer, whose company line also includes stakes fillies Shaggy Mane, Lady Gamer, Getback Time, and the colt Bonfante. Vaca City Flyer is dropping in class Friday.

The Pio Pico will be the first time Vaca City Flyer has raced at Fairplex, and Sherman admits to uncertainty regarding her ability on the five-eighths-mile track.

"I'm not sure how she'll handle it, but we have the best bullring rider," Sherman said, referring to Martin Pedroza.

The third choice in the betting is likely to be Valid's Valid, a 5-for-24 mare racing for the first time in two months.

The pick six Friday starts on race 8; the lowest price in the sequence is in race 13. Quick Honey drops one level after chasing quick fractions opening day, and should be long gone under Matt Garcia.