FAIRPLEX : Backstretch Run Is Sweet for Las Madrinas Winner

Oh Sweet Thing again proved to be a sweet claim for trainer Steve Ippolito, coming from far back to win the $104,500 Las Madrinas Handicap Friday at Fairplex Park.

Receiving a perfect ground-saving ride under Gary Stevens, Oh Sweet Thing held off Past Remembered to win by three-quarters of a length in the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares. A Wild Ride lugged out on all of the turns and finished another 2 1/4 lengths behind in third.

Oh Sweet Thing was timed in 1:43 1/5 and paid $6.40 as the slight favorite. It was the second consecutive stakes victory for the 3-year-old filly, whom Ippolito claimed for $40,000 in early August.

“I was really high on this horse,” Stevens said. “When Steve asked me to ride, I jumped at the chance. This filly beat me (in the Torrey Pines Stakes) when I was aboard Earth Angel.

“I noticed that she (Oh Sweet Thing) could really maneuver. She’ll do whatever you ask.”

Oh Sweet Thing did what Stevens asked on the backstretch, rallying inside A Wild Ride, who lugged out around the far turn.

“I told Gary that there was a little speed in the race,” Ippolito said. “I told him to lay back and let her go when you feel like it.”

Fairplex Notes

With three victories Friday, David Flores holds a 29-20 lead over Julio Garcia in the jockey standings. With three programs remaining, Flores has an outside chance to break Francisco Mena’s Fairplex record for victories (38).

Fourteen fans had Friday’s Pick Six, which had a $51,850 carryover. Each ticket paid $7,899.60. . . . Due To The King, winner of the Foothill Stakes on opening day, tops the field for today’s $100,000-added Pomona Derby at 1 1/16 miles. . . . Baychaino, the nation’s top 870-yard quarter horse, shoots for his sixth consecutive victory in today’s Pomona Quarter Horse Invitational Handicap. . . . Seven trainers are tied for first with four victories, while five others have three.