FAIRPLEX : C. Sam Maggio Impressive in 6-Length Win

C. Sam Maggio stamped himself as the horse to beat in the $150,000 Pomona Invitational Handicap on Oct. 4 when he breezed to a six-length victory Saturday at Fairplex Park in the $50,000 Phil D. Shepherd Stakes.

The first two Shepherd finishers receive automatic berths in the invitational, but the way C. Sam Maggio performed Saturday, the most lucrative race on the meet schedule may be a race for place.

Jockey Martin Pedroza hustled the 6-year-old gelding to the lead as soon as the seven-horse field left the gate, and fractions of :22 4/5, :45 3/5 and 1:10 4/5 succeeded in killing off his nearest pursuers, Lord Joe and Doc Of The Day.

C. Sam Maggio reached the wire in 1:43 1/5 as Treat Tobeatyafeet rallied on the outside to nab the place, a half-length before Blind Play.

Longshot Easter Buggy, ridden by G.R. Carter, survived a three-horse photo at Fairplex Park and won the $17,100 First Down Dash Handicap for 3-year-old quarter horses.

The victory was only the second in 10 lifetime starts for Easter Buggy.

Easter Buggy overcame a short lead of Song In My Dreams midway through the First Down Dash and was able to edge that rival and Bobby Beduino.

The time was 17.59 seconds for 350 yards.