FAIRPLEX : Nijinsky’s Prince Scores Upset in Feature Race

Apprentice jockey Omar Berrio brought longshot Nijinsky’s Prince from last and beat Sunshine Highway by a head in the $53,900 Gateway to Glory Stakes at Fairplex Park Thursday.

Running sixth with an eighth of a mile left, Nijinsky’s Prince rallied between horses, winning in the final strides. Chief Sassafras was third, 1 1/4 lengths back, in the field of 10 2-year-olds. Favored Palmdale, trained by former riding star Bill Shoemaker, finished ninth, 18 lengths behind.

Covering the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44 2/5, Nijinsky’s Prince paid $50.20 and recorded his first victory in five starts. Berrio picked up his second Fairplex Park stakes triumph.

Today, jockey Gary Stevens will make his 1990 Fairplex debut, riding Oh Sweet Thing in the $104,500 Las Madrinas Handicap for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles. Oh Sweet Thing recently won the Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar.

Fairplex Notes

For the second consecutive day, nobody tabbed six winners in the Pick Six. Today’s carryover is $51,850. . . . Leading jockey David Flores, with two victories Thursday, has increased his meeting lead to 26-19 over Julio Garcia. Omar Berrio is next with 12. . . . The $150,000 Bay Meadows Budweiser Breeders’ Cup Handicap will be simulcast at Fairplex Saturday, between the eighth and ninth races. . . . Thursday’s total mutuel handle of $2,913,176 represented an increase over last year’s mark of $2,772,730.