A pair of $15,000 California Sire Stakes for the 3-year-old pacing and trotting fillies have the spotlight at Cal Expo on Friday evening (November 11), with Whip And A Prayer and Thatssomebracciola seeking repeat victories after prevailing in the first round of big-money action at the meet two weeks ago.
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| Trauber Gordie Graham |
Whip And A Prayer is a homebred daughter of Hi Ho Silverheels and the Cam’s Card Shark mare Kc Carey who carries the banner of Frank Nevarez, with Gordie Graham the conditioner, and Rick Wojcio in his usual spot in the sulky.
After getting a nice tightener in her October 20 comeback race, Whip And A Prayer sat a tracking trip in the first stakes clash of the fall here two weeks ago and came home smartly to win going away by a length and a quarter while returning $25 to her backers.
Racetrack Diva was runner-up, while Dine N Wine had to settle for third as the 6-5 favorite in that affair, with both being previous stakes winners. Racetrack Diva is a Little Steven offspring who campaigns for Robert Bacon and Denise Maier, with Maier the conditioner and James Kennedy in the sulky. Dine N Wine is a Desomer Stables homebred by Power Of Art with Vickie Desomer training and Steve Wiseman at the helm.
Completing the field are Feetdontfailmenow, to be handled by Jim Lackey; Hi Fidelity with Scott Cisco; Math Wiz, who has the services of Lemoyne Svendsen; and Poor House, to be guided by Luke Plano.
Thatssomebracciola will attempt to add another stakes trophy to the mantle for owner/breeder Rick Plano and driver/trainer Luke Plano. This daughter of Armbro Scribe got a pocket journey to the stretch in that added-money clash two weeks ago, took command once straightened for home and posted a three and a quarter-length decision.
Taking her on are Claim Jumper, who has the rail with Steve Desomer in the sulky; Eggwhite Inmy Beer, James Kennedy; Dancergirl with Jim Lackey; Flea Flicker for Rich Wojcio; and Dancinwiththedevil with Steve Wiseman.
