Sophomore
colts & geldings, on both gaits, were spotlighted at Cal Expo on Saturday
night (April 14) in two $12,000 California Sires Stakes.
In
the first of the two non-wagering events held prior to the 15-race betting
card, this for the trotters, Rite After Disbeer scored in what had to be
considered an upset.
Not
leaving for driver Luke Plano, but coming away in third position from post-four
in the field of six, the pair sat in the three-hole through first-half numbers
of :31 & 1:03.2. With the field now
at the midway point of the final-turn, Plano elected not to be flushed
uncovered when the two year-old undefeated (4 for 4) champ, El Azteca (Marco
Rios), came first-over.
"Being
that it was only my horse's second lifetime start, and given he's still
'green,' I wasn't in any hurry to pull him at that point because I would have
had to rush him," stated Plano.
"So I elected to wait and take my chances from there."
That
chance, as it turns out, took place just a sixteenth of a mile later when Plano
muscled his way out at the three-quarter mile marker, timed in 1:34.1.
"When
I realized how wide El Azteca was, combined with my horse feeling like he had
quite a bit of trot, I figured that was my opportunity to move him out, plus I didn't
have to rush him."
Moving
forward at the head of the lane and quickly switching into a good gear with
3-16ths of a mile to go, the colt forged into the lead at the seven-eighths
mile station.
"I
showed him the whip and he eased right into the lead and was still well
in-hand. From that point on all I had to
do was just keep him to his task."
Trotting
on to win by a very easy two-lengths, the Mary Harris bred & owned three
year-old stopped the timer at 2:02.4, thus establishing a lifetime mark with
his maiden triumph. The pace-setting
Loose Cannon (Steve Wiseman) finished in second, and El Azteca finished 2-1/4
lengths farther back, in third.
"When
I had the opportunity to school this colt a couple of times, his trainer
Kennedy Lindsey was focusing on teaching him how to close in the lane. I think Kennedy did a fine job as the horse
raced exactly like he was taught - - to
close in the stretch," concluded Plano.
Completing
the Sires Stakes action were the pacers, on which Looks Don't Count was victorious.
Coming
away third from post-position two in the field of five for driver James
Kennedy, the duo stayed put through opening half fractions of :28.3 & :59.
Now racing two-lengths off the pocket sitting Bee Gee (Steve Wiseman) at the
five-eighths mile pole, then racing a loose third at the three-quarter mile
juncture, timed in 1:27.4, Kennedy soon moved his charge three-wide at the top
of the stretch. Closing in willing
fashion, the gelding took over the lead with a sixteenth of a mile to go and went
on to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:57, all while Kennedy had the whip up in the
air throughout the stretch drive. Bee
Gee finished in second, and Bloom N Doom (Lemoyne Svendsen), who cut the mile,
finished another 1-1/4 lengths farther back, in third.
"For
a very green horse, he was real good," said Kennedy. "It was good to get a Sires Stakes win
for owners Marlene & Rick Thomas, as well as for owner-trainer George
Reider."
On
the wagering card, in a conditioned & claiming pace for a $4,000 purse, One
And Only won ($7.00) by 8-3/4 lengths for driver Scott Cisco. Owned by Richard Morita & David Yamada,
the Liberio Pacheco trained four year-old gelding paced to a lifetime best
1:53.2. Stanza (Steve Wiseman) finished
in second, and 1-5 favorite Albion (Luke Plano), who made a very costly break
at the top of the stretch when beginning to make his move, never got back on
stride while finishing far back in third in a three-horse race as a result of
two scratches.
Live
racing resumes at Cal Expo on Friday (April 20) & Saturday (April 21) at
6:00 p.m. (PDT). 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. 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.
