FAIRPLEX : Fancy Turns In Fabulous Performance

Fancy ‘n Fabulous, a 13-1 longshot, won the $50,000-guaranteed E.B. Johnston Stakes on Sunday at Fairplex Park.

Fancy ‘n Fabulous, ridden by Goncalino Almeida, covered the distance in 1:43 3/5 on a fast track under 114 pounds and earned $27,500. He paid $28.20 in winning for the fourth time in 22 starts.

“It’s really a pleasure to win this race, because we’ve been trying for 13 years,” said owner Bud Johnston of the 14th running of the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares. “We finally were able to do it with a longshot. It was a great win for us. We’re really happy.”

Ashtabula, a 4-1 shot ridden by Fernando Valenzuela, was second, 4 1/2 lengths behind the winner and 1 1/2 lengths in front of Wende.

Lunar Spook, the 3-2 favorite, finished fourth, followed by Afleet Floozie.

Total attendance was 19,817, of which 7,710 was on track. The handle was $6,335,339, of which $1,305,276 was on track.