Conditioned-claimer distaffers, on both gaits, were featured at Cal Expo on Friday night (March 16) in a pair of $3,600 events over a sloppy track.
On the pacing side, trainer Steve Wiseman knew what was needed to overcome the seven-hole in the field of the same number.
"I figured the way the track was playing that I'd have to get away close because it seemed to be favoring horses up toward the front-end," stated Wiseman. "If I got away close I thought I had a decent shot."
Leaving and racing three-wide until the field entered the first-turn, Wiseman and his charge didn't clear to the point until a good ways past the 3-16ths mile marker. Did he use his mare into a :29.1 opening quarter?
"Not really that much because she felt ok."
With the field still 3/4's of a mile from home, Wiseman had company as Majestic Lass (Jim Lackey) was being quarter moved. Was this good?
"Yeah, but it didn't matter either way as I wasn't going to push her anyway, as I was going to cut her loose."
Yielding for the pocket just past the 3-8ths mile station into a :59.2 first-half, Wiseman soon saw reason to chase after his pacer when Lackey popped the earplugs of the pacesetter.
"When he did that, I thought he'd step up the pace a little bit, so I tried to get my mare up on the bit a little bit."
Now locked in the box at the three-quarter mile pole, timed in 1:30.1, was Wiseman concerned?
"No, I was just waiting to find an opening and hopefully turn her loose from there."
Sneaking out at the head of the lane and two-lengths behind Bewareofthisaffiar (Lemoyne Svendsen), who had taken over the lead, Wiseman was confident.
"I thought I had a shot of catching her because my mare loves to race in the lane."
Moving 3-wide with less than 3-16ths of a mile to go and closing at the seven-eighths mile juncture, Wiseman got after his eight year-old.
"I urged her and she responded very well. I just kept after her from there and she raced quite well all the way to the wire."
Taking the lead in pretty deep-stretch and drawing clear on the wire, the Robert Bacon owned mare won ($7.60) by 1-1/4 lengths, in 1:59.1, thus winning for the 29th time in her career. Bewareofthisaffiar was a good second, and Sleigh Belle (Scott Cisco) finished two lengths farther back, in third.
"It was a very good mile for her considering the rainy weather and the track condition," finished Wiseman.
On the trotting side, Shelby County took advantage of a class drop.
Leaving from post-position three in the field of a half-dozen for trainer Rocky Stidham, the five year-old was used for the lead that she didn't get until just past a :30.2 first quarter.
Getting well rated from there through a 1:00.4 first-half and a 1:31 three-quarters, the only mare in the race looked good in the stretch until having to be driven the last sixteenth of a mile as Alpine Hawk (Rich Wojcio) was surging.
Owned by the breeder, Ben Kenney, Shelby County held on to win ($5.00) by three-quarters of one-length, in 2:01.2. Alpine Hawk made it interesting while finishing in second, and Giles L S Hanover (Steve Wiseman) finished two-lengths farther back, in third.
Live racing continues at Cal Expo on Saturday (March 17) at 6:00 p.m. (PDT). On Saturday, Cal Expo offers Happy Hour from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on which Beer; Well Drinks & Wine are offered at $4 each, while Hotdogs, Fries & Sodas are offered at $2 apiece.
Cal Expo currently offers a reduced 15 percent takeout rate on all Pick 4’s. Additionally, all Late Pick 4’s now come with an increased $20,000-guaranteed gross pool. Also, 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.
