FAIRPLEX : Race Plan Works for Sassy Slew

Following trainer Steve Young’s pre-race instructions, jockey Julio Garcia brought Sassy Slew from far back to post a victory by a head over troubled Tess Of Hemet in the $54,100 E. B. Johnston Stakes at Fairplex Park Sunday afternoon.

Racing seventh in the field of nine fillies and mares entering the backstretch, Sassy Slew rapidly gained along the inside to collar pace-setting La Tropicana at the head of the stretch. But the five-year-old mare just held off Tess Of Hemet’s desperate late surge in the 1 1/16-mile contest.

“He rode her exactly like I told him too,” Young said. “But this is the furthest back she has ever been.”

Claimed for $35,000 three races ago at Del Mar, Sassy Slew was coming off solid third and second-place finishes in allowance company.

“I claimed her because she runs her race every time,” Young said. “She had finished second to Tis Juliet (an eventual stakes winner) earlier this year at Santa Anita. I thought she would make a pretty nice filly.”

Both Sassy Slew and Tess Of Hemet proved nice fillies Sunday. The latter took up into the backstretch when blocked behind Sassy Slew and finished the fastest in the final 1/16.

As the 5-2 second choice, Sassy Slew returned 7.80 while covering the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44 1/5. La Tropicana was third.

Fairplex Notes

Several racegoers were shaking their heads when Eternal Reason finished a well-beaten last in Sunday’s seventh race. It was the third consecutive Kermit Alexander-trained horse to be eased across the wire during the meet’s first four programs. . . Leading jockey David Flores recorded a triple Sunday and is leading the standings with eight winners. Martin Pedroza had a double. . . . Casady King stamped himself as the early favorite for the $50,000 Pomona Quarter Horse Invitational with a 3/4-length victory Sunday in the $16,650 Express Stakes. . . Seventeen fans had six winners Sunday for a $1,891.60 Pick Six payoff. . . Today’s top attraction is the Pio Pico Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs. Ex-claimer Pointedly is the likely favorite.