He didn't knock his opponents out, but a win is a win and that's what Tequila On Ice got.
Conditioned pacers were co-featured at Cal Expo on Friday night (December 30) for a purse of $3,000, on which Tequila On Ice made it two of his last three.
Before starting from post-position two in the field of a half-dozen, driver Jim Lackey was right to the point.
"I thought Live A Little (Lemoyne Svendsen) was the best horse, but after that I thought it was pretty wide open," stated Lackey.
Softly leaving to come away in third a sixteenth of a mile past the start, the sophomore pacer raced two-lengths off the foe in front of him into a :28.3 opening-quarter, but that what was Lackey wanted.
"I just didn’t want to get up tight on anybody because when you do that, sometimes he can get sideways."
Continuing to race a couple of lengths off until narrowing that margin to 1-1/2 lengths at the half-mile marker, timed in :57.4, Lackey was actually pleased.
"I was happy at that point because I didn't have to probably move him until somewhere in the final-turn."
Pulling first-over at the five-eighths mile station, then moving forward midway through the last bend, Lackey and his charge were just 1-1/4 lengths back at the three-quarter mile pole, timed in 1:27.4. Was a rated third-quarter an aid?
"I'm sure the :30 third-quarter helped because when you're on the outside you're always working harder especially when you're uncovered. So obviously if the pace is slower - - it takes less out of your horse. As for his chances, I know that usually once he straightens away that he'll do what he can. But I had to wait and see because Live A Little was on my back and I was expecting him to make a pretty strong move."
Taking over the lead with an eighth of a mile to go and now under an all-out drive, Tequila On Ice couldn't put away the pace-setting Glad To Be Back (Rich Wojcio).
"He does what he can and it's either going to be good enough or it's not. He tried through the stretch, but I thought Glad To Be Back was coming back at us to the wire, but the wire came up in time for us."
Owned by Dennis Giles in partnership with Jim Wilkinson Jr., the gelding prevailed ($14.60) by a neck over his stable-mate, in 1:56.1. Glad To Be Back had to settle for second, and Live A Little finished three-quarters of one-length back, in third.
"It was a solid effort," finished Lackey.
On the 15-race program, leading driver Steve Wiseman had five winners.
Live racing continues at Cal Expo on Saturday (December 31) with a special 5:00 p.m. (PST) post-time. On Saturday, Cal Expo offers free admission, as well as free preferred & general parking after 4:30 p.m. Also on Saturday, its Dollar Night, on which hot-dogs; beer, soda, and wine will be sold for one dollar from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Cal Expo now offers a reduced 15 percent takeout rate on all Pick 4’s (Thursday/Friday nights in partnership with the USTA Strategic Wagering Committee). In addition, all Late Pick 4’s will come with a $10,000-guaranteed pool. On Saturday night, there will be a 0% takeout on successful Late Pick 4 tickets made at Cal Expo or at Twinspires.com.
