Vaca City Flyer sets record in Rockridge

ALBANY, Calif. - Vaca City Flyer ($7.60) broke a 31-year-old course record in her turf debut, winning the five-furlong Rockridge in 55.25 seconds over the Lakeside Turf Course at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday.

The 5-year-old mare broke in stride and sailed to a 5-length (five one-quarter) victory as she broke the 56-flat record held by Black Tornado since May 10, 1975.

Allswellthatnswell, last early, got up for second, outfinishing Vino Tinto by a head.

"She broke good, and it was like a workout," winning jockey Dennis Carr said. "She was well within herself and never missed a step, even down the backstretch where there's a slight dip."

Steve Sherman, assistant and son of trainer Art Sherman, said, "I didn't know what to think" about how the mare would handle the turf.

"She didn't even have an opportunity to work on the turf so I didn't know what to think. But she's a racehorse. She's won 11-of-21 so I knew she'd give 100 percent."

The victory, worth $29,050, was her second straight stakes win. She beat Allswellthatnswell by a nose in the Mount Tam on March 5. She has now earned $284,756 for owner Jim Vlahos.