The
start of the 2012 California Sires Stakes season got underway on Friday night
(April 13) at Cal Expo with a pair of $12,000 events for the three year-old
fillies over a track listed as “good.”
In
the pacing division, driver Scott Cisco knew what was needed to get the job
done.
"She
raced really good the week before when she won," stated Cisco. "I was just hoping to get a good trip
and have a little luck against the Sire Stake fillies."
Coming
away in third position from post-two in the field of ten into a :29.4 opening
quarter, Cisco didn't worry when his sophomore gapped less than two-lengths
from the three-eighths mile marker to the half-mile juncture, timed in :59.
"I
wasn't concerned, I was actually happy she was relaxing because she can be
grabby. At the half, with a three-hole
trip, if everything worked out - - I thought we'd be okay."
Getting
chased after once at the five-eighths mile pole and back on the back of Diva
Las Vegas (Steve Wiseman), Twentyone Guns soon couldn't quite pace with that
foe who had pulled to the midway point of the final-turn, then would loosely
follow that opponent to the three-quarter mile station (1:28.3) as she took a
parked out from Little Anna Mae (Tim Maier).
"Once
I saw Diva Las Vegas pull, I knew it was working out perfectly for me because I
got to keep a little cover until Diva Las Vegas eventually cleared, plus my
filly felt big at the three-quarters.
Getting
left first-over at the head of the lane, Cisco pulled the trigger.
"I
popped the earplugs and she responded pretty strongly."
Shooting
into the lead in very fast fashion to the seven-eighths mile pole, the daughter
of Hi Ho Silverheel's-Annie Get Your Gun-Distinguishedbaron looked good, or did
she?
"Once
I put away Diva Las Vegas, I thought I was a dead winner."
Now
with a sixteenth of a mile to go, Cisco was forced to get after his charge in
pretty good fashion as Twentyone Guns "appeared" to be shortening her
stride.
"I
wasn't totally worried about her slowing up, but there was some concern because
I obviously didn't want to get caught. I
can't say she was tiring; I want to say she was being ‘green’ because I think
she was waiting on horses. Then when I
urged her, she went forward again and we were able to hold on."
Bred
& owned by Wayne & Rod Knittel, the Bob Johnson trained pupil lasted to
win ($19.20) by a head in 1:57.2, a lifetime mark. Diva Las Vegas was coming back at the end to
be a good second, and Drawing Dead (Luke Plano) finished 1-1/2 lengths farther
back, in third.
"I
was ecstatic with the way she raced, which was great," finished
Cisco. For trainer Johnson, the victory
was one of five conditioning scores on the program.
Prior
to the races in a two-horse non-wagering event for the trotters, Silverlode
never looked back for driver Steve Desomer.
Bred & owned by Desomer Stables and trained by Vickie Desomer, the
daughter of British Sterling-Charlotte's Web-Website cut out fractions of :33,
1:06.1 & 1:37.2 before coming home in :28.3 while 12 lengths to the good in
2:06, thus establishing a lifetime mark.
California Crush (Sue Boyce) finished in second.
Live
racing continues at Cal Expo on Saturday (April 14) 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.
