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Saturday, May 19, 2012

CalX1 - Giles L S Hanover Captures Grundy Memorial At Cal Expo

Saturday, May 19, 2012 - by Scott Ehrlich, Publicity – Cal Expo

Winners-Over trotters, racing for a purse of $7,200, were featured at Cal Expo on Friday night (May 18), on which Giles L S Hanover picked them up and laid them down.

Prior to starting from his assigned post-one in the field of seven, pilot Steve Wiseman gave himself a better chance than his 12-1 morning-line and despite his charge being winless on 16 seasonal starts.

"The horse always tries his hardest," stated Wiseman.  "I thought if I got away close and the fractions were honest, that I had a shot."

Coming away fourth into a snappy :28.1 opening-quarter, was this good for the seven year-old?

"It didn't hurt at all.  I liked seeing a little fast pace early because it keeps the tempo going, plus he likes fast fractions."

With the pace-setting Putoneonnetformom (James Kennedy) getting a :30 second-quarter breather, combined with a parked from the start Broadway Victory (John Mc Keon Jr.) alongside of Wiseman, things weren't going quite as well.

"I was a little concerned there because Broadway Victory was just sitting there next to me and going nowhere.  I was just hoping that Scotty (Cisco) would pull with Dudis Angel and I'd be able to follow them and get out."

Locked in on the final-turn while Putoneonnetformom opened up at the five-eighths mile station, Wiseman had to be realistic.

"When Putoneonnetformom opened up, I thought at that point that the race was for second.  As a result I was just hoping I could salvage second."

Sliding to second-over position at the same time Putoneonnetformom, who was under a hold, reached the three-quarter mile pole, timed in 1:28, Wiseman at least thought his chances for the place honors were better.

"At that point with me now free, I knew I had a decent shot to get second."

Moving three-wide with 3-16ths of a mile to go and gaining at the seven-eighths mile marker, Wiseman had good reason to increase his chances.

It wasn't until inside the seven-eighths that I thought I had a good shot of catching Putoneonnetformom because it looked like he was coming back to me.  From that point on my horse was responding to everything I was doing, which was yelling and urging a little.  He kept to his task and was very strong right through the wire."

Flying into the lead with less than a sixteenth of a mile to go and hardly being urged, the gelding would score ($17.20) by 1-1/4 lengths.  Owned by Marty Garey & Hank Wieseneck in partnership with trainer Bob Johnson, Giles L S Hanover stopped the timer at 1:57.3, a lifetime best.  Shelby County (Rocky Stidham) finished in second, and Putoneonnetformom finished a half of one-length farther back, in third.

“He raced awesome for his first victory of the year.  You couldn't ask for a better race to win than the Jim Grundy Memorial.  I'm very grateful to Bob Johnson and his owners for letting me drive him all year," concluded Wiseman.

Winners-Over pacers, racing for a purse of $6,800, were also spotlighted on the card, on which Albion, despite being assigned post-ten in a field of six, won his fourth straight.

Leaving for driver Luke Plano and getting a seat fifth 3-16ths of a mile plus past the start into a :27.2 first-quarter, Plano had his pacer moving past the quarter-pole, was three-wide well past the 5-16ths mile marker, was first-over past the three-eighths, then made the lead to the 7-16ths mile pole into a :56.3 opening half-mile.

Getting a soft :29.2 third-quarter into a 1:26 three-quarters, Albion opened up his lead at the head of the lane, then expanded it with an eighth of a mile to go with no chance of getting caught.

Owned by Dan Tullio & James Mascola in partnership with trainer Matias Ruiz, the six year-old won ($2.60) by two-lengths, in 1:54.2.  The victory for the gelding was his 11th on the season, his 21st in the last two years, and his 28th triumph overall.  Cycle Power (Steve Wiseman) was a nice second, and Split Ticket (Scott Cisco) finished 2-1/4 lengths farther back, in third.

For driver Luke Plano, the victory was the second of five winners on the night.  Also on the 15-race card, driver Dave Siegel had a grand-slam.

Live racing continues at Cal Expo on Saturday (May 19) 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.