It's
Drinks On The House At Cal Expo
Friday, May 11, 2012 - by Mark
Ratzky, Publicity -- Cal Expo
Rite
After Disbeer has certainly raised his profile among the 3-year-old trotting
colts by virtue of back-to-back Sire Stakes decisions at Cal Expo, and he’ll
try to make it a hat trick when he suits up against his peers this weekend.
Mary
Harris owns and bred the son of New Age Hanover and the Tabor Lobell mare
Judi’s Jewel, Kennedy Lindsey calls the shots and Luke Plano will be handling
the lines on Saturday (May 12) after guiding the colt to his two stakes scores.
“He
suffered an injury last year, so we weren’t able to get him to the races at 2,”
Lindsey explained. “He always showed us
a lot of potential, but we wanted to give him all the time he needed and bring
him back right.”
Rite
After Disbeer returned to serious training at the start of the year and posted
a double-digit tally in his first qualifier at the end of February. He made a break at the half in his March 10
debut, but obviously got what he needed out of the mile and has returned to
prove clearly best in his last two stakes appearances.
“I
drove him in that first start and I was a little surprised he jumped it off,”
Kennedy said. “On the other hand, they
did go down to the half in :58 that night and he’d never seen anything near
that kind of speed. The track was also a
little off, and that might have had something to do with it.”
Despite
the debut miscue, the trainer went into the first stakes dance of the season
with plenty of confidence in the Harris color-bearer as Plano took over the
reins.
“I
knew he would move forward with the race under his belt and he looked real
sharp winning that first stakes. Luke
said in the winner’s circle that he drives just like a Cadillac, and that’s
what you love to hear.
“The
second stakes was another real strong mile for him. He came home in :28 again and that’s always
impressive for a green trotter making only his second and third starts. His injury from last year is pretty much good
and set, so now it’s just a matter of keeping him happy and healthy.”
Sophomore
Colts Battle In Saturday Sire Stakes At Cal Expo
The
3-year-old colts are in the spotlight at Cal Expo Saturday evening (May 12) in
two $12,000 Sire Stakes events with Ra Ra Steven and Bee Gee looming large
among the pacers while Rite After Disbeer looks to continue a 2012 sweep in the
trotting affair.
Bee
Gee is a homebred son of Power Of Art and the Dignitarian mare Gee Gee Girl who
carries the banner of Desomer Stables with Vickie Desomer training and husband
Steve handling the lines.
The
bay performer was the runner-up behind Looks Don’t Count in the first big-money
gathering for this group on April 14, then once again crossed the wire in the
runner-up position two weeks ago.
However, Ra Ra Steven was disqualified and placed out of the money by
the stewards for interference and Bee Gee garnered his initial trophy.
Ra
Ra Steven is a Little Steven offspring who is owned and was bred by Billie
Schwartz, David Rachford and trainer Jim Wilkinson Jr. and Rich Wojcio will
once again be in the sulky. He was a
multiple stakes winner last season and could prove to be an elusive target in
this spot.
Looks
Don’t Count was a sharp winner of the April 14 big-money dance and then lost
his chance with an interference break two weeks ago. Another Little Steven homebred, he races for
Marlene and Rick Thomas and conditioner George Reider and James Kennedy has the
return assignment.
Rounding
out the cast are Ridgerson for Scott Cisco; Bloom N Doom, who has the services
of Jim Lackey; Hollywood Star with Lemoyne Svendsen; That Space for Luke Plano;
and Artability from the Dario Solares barn.
In
the trotting end, Rite After Dinner looks to continue his winning ways for
owner/breeder Mary Harris, trainer Kennedy Lindsey and driver Luke Plano. Taking him on in the non-betting race are El
Azteca for Marco Rios; Lee’s Persuader with Scott Cisco; Light Red and Lemoyne
Svendsen; Loose Cannon with Steve Wiseman; and High Dollar for Steve Desomer.
Live
racing resumes at Cal Expo on Friday (May 11) & Saturday (May 12) at 6:00
p.m. (PST). 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.
