Sophomore
fillies, on both gaits, were featured at Cal Expo on Friday night (April 27) in
a pair of $12,000 California Sires Stakes.
In
the event for the pacers, driver Steve Wiseman had good reason to be
optimistic.
"I
thought I had a decent shot considering she raced real big last week when she
won," said Wiseman.
Coming
away in third position as the field of six dropped into post-position order,
there'd be no movement through first-half fractions of :29.1 & :59.3. Did this concern Wiseman?
"I
know there wasn't any pace to the race, but that didn't bother me because I
didn't think that Twentyone Guns (Scott Cisco), who was on the front, would
prefer that over closing."
Moving
first-over to the 9-16ths mile marker and edging up through the final-turn, the
filly found herself just a half-length back at the three-quarter mile station,
timed in 1:29.
"I
thought I had a pretty good shot at that point because she was still pretty
strong and I was sitting pretty chilly."
Getting
closer late in the final turn, then taking a slim lead with less than 3-16ths
of a mile to go, Wiseman went to work at the seven-eighths mile pole.
"Once
I urged her she responded very well to it and paced very strongly right to the
wire."
Opening
up past mid-stretch, there'd be no catching the daughter of Hi Ho
Silverheel's-Prettylittlerebel-Little Steven as she'd go on to record a 3-1/4
length victory ($3.40). Owned by Wayne
Knittel in partnership with co-breeder & trainer Denise Maier, Diva Las
Vegas stopped the timer at 1:56.3, a lifetime best. Little Anna Mae (Tim Maier), also trained by
Denise Maier, finished in second, and La Madawna De Rosa (Lemoyne Svendsen) finished
just a neck farther back, in third.
"She
raced very strong and it was a very good race for her," finished Wiseman,
who had a driving triple on the card.
In
advance of the betting card, the trotters were in action in a two-horse
non-wagering event, on which Silverlode romped again.
Lagging
the start five-lengths from post one for driver Steve Desomer, the pair cut
that margin to 2-3/4 lengths at the quarter-pole, timed in :31.2. On the move at the 5-16ths marker and taking
over the lead to the three-eighths mile pole, the filly reached the half-mile
juncture, timed in 1:02.3. Opening up
the lead at the three-quarter mile station, timed in 1:33, the daughter of
British Sterling-Charlotte's Web-Website poured it on in the lane and won under
wraps by 14-1/4 lengths, in 2:03.1, a lifetime best. California Crush (Sue Boyce) finished in
second.
Live
racing continues at Cal Expo on Saturday (April 28) 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.
