HORSE RACING : Dead Heat’s Win Brings Consolation for Flores

Moments after being disqualified from victory aboard Truly Royal in the Fairplex Breeders Cup Stakes, leading jockey David Flores rebounded with a flawless ride aboard Dead Heat in the $33,900 Amanda S. Stakes at Fairplex Park on Monday, the closing day of the meeting.

Rallying from third entering the backstretch, Dead Heat cruised to a 6 1/4-length victory over Saros Treasure in the 1 1/16-mile event. Favored Something Comfy, suffering a troubled trip, was another three quarters back in third in the field of seven three-year-old fillies. Dead Heat paid $9.80, covering the distance in 1:43 2/5.

“I told David not to let the gateman ‘ear’ her (hold her ears) like they did in the Torrey Pines when she broke badly,” said winning trainer John Dolan. “Then I told him to stay close to the lead and see what happens.”

Something Comfy, second in a prior stakes, took up sharply around the far turn the first time and never regained momentum.

In the $24,750 Fairplex Breeders Cup Stakes, Truly Royal lugged out badly on the turns, impeding third-place finisher Plumas Pines. The stewards disqualified Truly Royal from first to third, awarding the six-furlong race to Sew Predictable, who rallied inside Truly Royal to finish second.

Fairplex Notes

David Flores dominated the rider standings, winning 35 races, only three shy of Francisco Mena’s record. Julio Garcia was second with 22 victories, followed by apprentice Omar Berrio (16) and Adalberto Lopez (14). Flores also won a season-high six stakes. . . . Roger Stein wrapped up the training title with six victories, one more than Mike Mitchell.

In the $20,000 Silver And Gold Invitational Handicap for appaloosas Monday, jockey Cheryl White guided Double Agitate to a wire-to-wire victory over Double Crossed. Double Agitate returned $27.60. . . . The media voted Yes Im Blue horse of the meet, based on his victories in the Aprisa and Governor’s Cup Handicaps.

Nate Hubbard and Don Collins, with six victories apiece, captured the mixed breed jockey and trainer standings respectively. . . . Ray Sibille suffered a foot injury in Monday’s eighth race when Shelooksmarvelous became very fractious and was scratched in the gate. Sibille was excused from his remaining mounts. . . . Seven patrons tabbed six winners for a $3,730.80 Pick-Six payoff.

With one additional racing day, Fairplex Park recorded a mutuel handle record of $60,456,160. However, the total daily handle average of $3,181,903 was down 4.1%. The on-track attendance average of 10,688 was down 7.5%. The total attendance average of 14,772 (on and off track) marked a 4.8% drop from the previous year. . . . Southland thoroughbred racing resumes at Santa Anita Wednesday afternoon for the start of the Oak Tree meeting.