By DRF.com
FRESNO, Calif. (Oct. 6, 2022) — Fashionably Fast was vanned from Santa Anita to Fresno on Wednesday afternoon for Saturday’s $75,000 Harris Farms Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles at the Big Fresno Fair.
It’s a path, and a race, the 7-year-old gelding knows well.
Fashionably Fast was second by a head in the 2018 Harris Farms Stakes and won the race in 2019 and 2021. Coming off a hard-fought win in an allowance race at Del Mar on Aug. 27, Fashionably Fast has the form to win the Harris Farms Stakes for a third time, according to trainer Dean Pederson.
“To get a three-peat in any race is quite an accomplishment,” Pederson said. “You have to have longevity and consistency.”
Owned by breeder John Harris, who owns Harris Farms, in partnership with Per Antonsen and John Nicoletti, Fashionably Fast ended a five-race losing streak with the win at Del Mar. His last victory had come in the 2021 Harris Farms Stakes.
“He showed that old spark,” Pederson said. “It wasn’t like he was running bad races, he just wasn’t winning. He hasn’t lost his competitiveness.
Fashionably Fast, by Lucky Pulpit, out of the Forestry mare Fall Fashion, won by a head over Letsgetlucky, who was a neck in front of Howbeit. On Oct. 1, Howbeit won the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship. Fashionably Fast has 10 wins in 32 starts, earnings of $804,143 and is coming off an Aug. 27 optional claiming win.
In the Harris Farms Stakes, Fashionably Fast is part of a field of seven that includes several accomplished sprinters based in Northern California.
Multiple stakes winner Top Harbor, second in the 2021 Harris Farms Stakes, will have his first start since a win in the El Dorado Shooter Stakes for statebred sprinters at Golden Gate Fields last October. Trained by Tim McCanna, Top Harbor has worked quickly for his return. Multiple stakes winner Top Harbor is by Harbor the Gold, out of the He’s Tops mare Reba is Tops, was bred by owners Eric Schweiger, Gordy Jarnig & Kenny Marshall and trained by Tim McCanna. He has four wins in 11 starts and earnings of $187,774.
Other runners include Cool Mountain Lad and Ultimate Bango, who were first and second in the Oak Tree Sprint at six furlongs at Plesanton in July, and Psycho Dar, the sharp winner of an allowance race at five furlongs on turf at Golden Gate Fields on Sept. 16.
Fashionably Fast is likely to track expected pacesetter Good Vibes Only, who will have his stakes debut on Saturday.
“I think he’s better that way, having a target to run at,” Pederson said. “I hope we get a clean trip.”
Psycho Dar is by Storm Wolf, out of the Maria’s Mon mare Stormin Mon, was bred by Liberty Road Stables, is owned by Mary Tucker and trained by Samuel Calvario. He has nine wins in 37 starts, earnings of $403,516 and is coming off a Sept. 16 allowance win.
Good Vibes Only is by Maclean’s Music, out of the Tiz Wonderful mare Tiz Tigress, was bred by Ruis Racing, is owned by Hronis Racing and trained by John Sadler. He has three wins in eight starts, earnings of $112,724 and is coming off a third in a Sept. 18 optional claimer.
Stakes winner Ultimate Bango is by Uh Oh Bango, out of the Cee’s Tizzy mare Ultimate Summer, was bred by Mitchell Dutko & Bob Abrams, is owned by Mary Tucker and trained by Samuel Calvario. He has six wins in 31 starts, earnings of $425,433 and is coming off a fourth in a Sept. 16 allowance.
Clem Labine is by Grazen, out of the Tribal Rule mare Tribal Dress, was bred by Nick Alexander, is owned by Mia Familia Racing Stable, Davis, Bob C. , Ward, Dudley, P. and Han, Moon S. and is trained by Librado Barocio. He has 11 wins in 37 starts, earnings of $324,527 and is coming off a second in a Sept. 24 claimer.
Stakes winner Cool Mountain Lad is by Unionize, out of the Stormin Fever mare Honeysuckle Rose, was bred by Francis O’Leary, is owned by Lordan, William, O’Leary, Timothy Francis and Powers, Larry and trained by Victor Trujillo. He has seven wins in 18 starts, earnings of $212,374 and is coming off a win in a Sept. 2 optional claimer.