Her
lead couldn't have been much tougher and quite frankly should have derailed
her, but tell that to Haggin Oaks who was more powerful than a locomotive.
Winners-Over
pacers, in quest for a $4,500 purse, were featured at Cal Expo on Saturday
night (February 12), on which Haggin Oaks absolutely wouldn't be denied.
In
advance of starting from her assigned post-five in the field of six, trainer
James Kennedy knew his all-male competition was keen.
"I
was a little concerned about my chances because Marlin Hanover (Luke Plano) had
won three in-a-row and has been racing real good, plus Albion (Dave Siegel) is
a pretty good horse also," stated Kennedy.
"My strategy was to leave and 'hopefully' control the tempo."
Leaving
and four-wide until three-wide just as the field entered the first-turn, the
six year-old stayed three-deep after an eighth of a mile versus dropping in
behind a parked-out advancing One And Only (Jim Lackey).
"Yes,
I could have fallen in behind One And Only, but I didn't as I really wanted to
be on the front-end."
Racing
three-wide and intent for the front while in a dingdong battle with One And
Only and the strong pace pushing Albion, Haggin Oaks didn't see the two-path
until well past a demanding :28 first-quarter, then didn't see the one-path
until she had traveled a bruising three-eighths of a mile.
"It
was a very tough lead as we were pushing pretty hard there. Was I worried? Well, you may not believe this, but I said to
her in the post-parade that we were going to get beat up in the first-turn and
that I had faith in her. And honestly,
once I made the lead, I felt the same.
At that point, as hard as I had to work for the lead, I wanted to stay
there and was just hoping Marlin Hanover wasn't going to come from last to try
and get the point because I wanted to give her a breather."
Getting
his wish with a half mile left to pace in the race, Kennedy was pleased and had
a plan.
"When
I saw the half mile of :57.2 come up, I knew I had gotten myself a little :29.2
breather and with One And Only behind me and in my mind thinking he's not as
good as my mare, I was going to take advantage of that and try to gain some
ground on the rest of the field and make the others horses have to get around
him - - which is why I went a quick third-quarter."
Letting
his anxious mare pace a :28.3 third-quarter, but not letting her go as fast as
perhaps she wanted to, the pair, with the horses to beat not within
four-lengths or more of them, reached the three-quarter mile station, timed in
1:26.
"She
was feeling strong and I was feeling strong with her. And since I didn't hear or see anybody at
that point, I just popped the earplugs and asked her to go on and see what
happened."
Drawing
clear into the stretch, but with the field getting closer at the seven-eighths
mile pole, Kennedy went to work and soon had Amigo De Garcia (Steve Wiseman) at
his wheel.
"I
just asked her to go and once they got to her shoulder, she dug in and fought
him and the field off and finished and raced like the superstar that she
is."
Digging
down deep under an all-out drive, Haggin Oaks won ($10.00) by three-quarters of
one-length. Owned by Shari Burns, Ferris
Funk & Gerald Cimini, the only lady in the race stopped the timer at 1:54,
a seasonal best and her 22nd career triumph.
Ivegotwhatuneed (Lemoyne Svendsen) finished in second, and Albion was a
good third, just a neck farther back.
"She
raced her heart out and it was a heck of a mile," finished a totally
overjoyed and proud Kennedy.
Live racing resumes at Cal Expo on Friday (February 17) & Saturday (February 18) at 6:00 p.m. (PST). On every live card, Cal Expo offers free parking & free admission after 4:30 p.m. On Friday, Cal Expo offers Happy Hour from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on which Beer; Well Drinks & Wine are offered at $4 each, while a Burger with fries is offered at $5.
Cal
Expo currently offers a reduced 15 percent takeout rate on all Pick 4’s
(Thursday/Friday nights in partnership with the USTA Strategic Wagering
Committee). This Friday & Saturday
night, all Late Pick 4’s will come with a $10,000-guaranteed pool. Additionally, there will be a 0% takeout on
successful Late Pick 4 tickets made at Cal Expo or at Twinspires.com.
In
addition to both Pick 4’s at Cal Expo continuing to offer a reduced 15 percent
takeout rate, beginning February 24, the Late Pick 4’s on Friday and Saturday
will come with an increased $15,000-guaranteed gross pool.
Also
starting that weekend, the Friday Late Pick 4 will offer a 0% takeout on all
winning wagers made on track or at Twinspires.com, while the Saturday Late Pick
4 will be broadcast on TVG.
