For Opinion, click here for View from the Racetrack Grandstand

Thursday, February 23, 2012

CalX1 Svendsen Sets Sights On No. 2,700 At Cal Expo


Thursday, February 23, 2012 - by Mark Ratzky, Publicity -- Cal Expo

Lemoyne Svendsen comes into Friday’s (February 24) program at Cal Expo just win one shy of the 2,700-victory plateau, and among his drives will be the hard-hitting Majestic Lass in Friday’s $3,600 main event for pacing distaffers.

Majestic Lass and Sleigh Belle are both returning to distaff-only competition after chasing home the streaking Double Dakota last weekend.  Sleigh Belle finished fourth in that affair while Majestic Lass picked up the fifth place money, and both should be much more at home under these conditions.

Sleigh Belle is a 6-year-old daughter of Artsplace who is owned by Jessie Pacheco, takes her lessons from Liberio Pacheco and will have Scott Cisco at the controls.  The bay miss posted back-to-back wins with this kind on February 3 and 10, stalking in the first of the those scores and then making every pole a winning one in the latter with Cisco at the helm on both occasions. 

Majestic Lass was a 14-time winner from her 38 trips to the post last year and has a first, a second and two thirds from her seven attempts this season.  George Reider conditions the 6-year-old Art Major mare and co-owns with Rick and Marlene Thomas.

Majestic Lass recorded her 2012 score on January 13, going coast-to-coast that night and holding by a nose with Luke Plano in the sulky.  She sports a 1:55 mark that was established here two years ago.

Rounding out the field are Blue Note; Scooter Babe with Gene Vallandingham;  Bewareofthisaffair for James Kennedy  and Frankly Scarlett, who has the services of Steve Wiseman and the outside slot.  A 15-race card is on tap, with the headliner set as the second event on the evening.