A
pair of $12,000 California Sires Stakes for sophomore fillies on both gaits
were featured at Cal Expo on Friday night (May 11).
In
the event for the pacers, driver Steve Wiseman knew one thing with his charge
back in against her own kind after a third in open company, but it was
dependent upon another.
"I
thought I had a real good chance, I just had to get away up close," stated
Wiseman.
Firing
out from post-position six in the field of the same number, the filly had the
lead just as the field entered the first-turn, yet paced a speedy :28.1 opening
quarter. Was Wiseman concerned?
"No,
the reason I went :28.1 was that I just wanted to settle everybody - - she
handled it fine."
Getting
a nice :30.2 second-quarter breather, Wiseman knew the soft split had to be helpful.
"The
second-quarter breather bravened her right up because I got my own way in that
quarter. What was even better was that I
had a good hold of her, plus she felt strong."
Pacing
a :28.4 third-quarter, but effortlessly, Wiseman had good reason for tapping on
the pedal.
"I
just wanted to step it up a little and keep the pace going when I saw La
Madawna De Rosa (Lemoyne Svendsen) was coming first-up, plus I didn't want my
horse headed. At that point she felt
good and real strong, and I still thought I had a good shot from there."
Under
whip-tap urging very late in the final-turn, Wiseman let his three year-old
pace on her own to the seven-eighths mile marker, but with La Madawna De Rosa
now only three-quarters of one-length behind her.
"I
knew La Madawna De Rosa was coming, but I didn't feel that I had to urge my
horse yet because she still felt pretty strong.
Then with an eighth of a mile to go I urged her a little bit and she
went on and responded very well."
Under
moderate urging until hand urged the last sixteenth of a mile, the daughter of
Hi Ho Silverheel's-Prettylittlerebel-Little Steven wouldn't be denied.
"She
fought off La Madawna De Rose and got the job done."
Owned
by Wayne Knittle in partnership with trainer & co-breeder Denise Maier, the
filly, now having recorded back to back Sires Stakes triumphs, scored ($4.00)
by one-length, in 1:56.1, a lifetime best. Little Anna Mae (Tim Maier), also trained by
Denise Maier, finished in second, and La Madawna De Rosa finished one-length
farther back, in third.
"She's
becoming a very nice filly and now becoming very tactical because she raced and
won on the front - - it was a good race for her," finished Wiseman.
In
the other Sire Stake, this a two-horse non-betting event for the trotters held
prior to the wagering card, Silverlode and Steve Desomer were content to come
away in second from post-one into a :31.2 opening quarter. Making
5-16ths move to the top into a 1:01 first-half, the pair opened up with
almost every stride in the third-quarter, thus all alone by 12-lengths at the
three-quarter mile marker, timed in 1:30.
Continuing to expand her lead in the lane, the daughter of British
Sterling-Charlotte's Wed-Website cruised home to win by 27-lengths while
stopping the timer at 1:59.4, easily a lifetime best. California Crush (Sue Boyce) finished in
second.
Live
racing continues at Cal Expo on Saturday (May 12) 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.
