Sophomore
fillies, on both gaits, were featured at Cal Expo on Friday night (May 25) in a
pair of season ending $12,000 California Sires Stakes, on which Diva Las Vegas
& Silverlode left no doubt.
In
the division for the pacers, driver Steve Wiseman was going to be patient to
start off.
"The
plan was to let everyone settle early and play it by ear from there," said
Wiseman.
Leaving
softly for the pocket from post-position two in the field of seven, Wiseman
took a look back an eighth past the start while out slightly, but then was back
inside right away.
"I
just wanted to make sure that everyone settled before I did anything. As for being half out, the only reason for
that was because that was the only way I could see that everyone was lined
up."
Content
in the deuce at the quarter-mile pole, timed in :29, Wiseman knew that was
about to change.
"At
the quarter I knew I wanted the lead and would be moving shortly."
On
the move at the 5-16ths mile station, the filly got the lead to the 7-16ths
mile marker into a :57.2 opening half-mile, while pacing her second-quarter
split in :28. Did Wiseman use his
charge?
"Not
really because the wind was at our back.
She felt real strong, great as a matter of fact at that point. I thought I had a good shot from there."
Getting
the whip shown to her to the five-eighths mile marker, Wiseman got the reaction
he wanted as his three year-old opened up with every stride, soon leading by
4-1/2 lengths at the three-quarter mile pole, timed in 1:25.3.
"My
hopes were to get enough real-estate on the rest of the them because I still
had the wind at my back. I just showed her the whip a little and she responded
very well. With the lead I had at the
three-quarters, I thought I had a real good chance from there. In regards to the fractions, even though the
middle-half fractions were fast, it was wind-aided and probably not as fast as
it will look."
All
alone at the head of the lane and soon under wheel-disc urging to the
seven-eighths mile juncture, the filly expanded her lead to an insurmountable
advantage.
"Every
time I asked her, which was to keep her attention down the lane, she kept
responding very well and would pace good, strong, and comfortably to the wire,
and I didn't urge her much at all."
Owned
by Wayne Knittel in partnership with co-breeder & trainer Denise Maier,
Diva Las Vegas took the last three spring Sires Stakes, this one by a trouncing
11-3/4 lengths, winning ($3.40) in 1:55.2, a lifetime best. La Madawna De Rosa (Lemoyne Svendsen) &
On The Way Home (James Kennedy) finished in a dead-heat for second.
"She
raced very well. It was a very good race
for her in the last Sires Stake of the spring meet," concluded Wiseman.
Trotters
were in action in a non-wagering mile prior to the betting card, on which
Silverlode showed no mercy.
Coming
away second from post-one in the field of two into a :29.4 opening quarter,
driver Steve Desomer, for the third straight Sires Stakes, made his move at the
5-16ths mile pole and soon had the lead with 9-16ths of a mile to go, all while
opening up the lead with every stride into a :59.2 first-half.
Increasing
her lead on the final-turn at will, the filly led by 13-lengths at the
three-quarter mile marker, timed in 1:29.4.
Then added insult to injury by reporting home by a whopping
43-lengths. Bred & owned by the
Desomer Stables, and trained by Vickie Desomer, Silverlode won in 2:00.2, thus
sweeping the four spring Sires Stakes.
Once again, California Crush (Sue Boyce) finished in second.
Live
racing continues at Cal Expo on Saturday (May 26) 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.
