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Friday, February 8, 2013

Calx1 - Friday Barn Notes


CORLEY AND CONLIN SERIES, SIRE STAKES,

KEVIN TISHER MEMORIAL HEADLINE PROGRAM
By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

The second legs of the Michael Corley and Bill Conlin Pacing series, the Kevin Tisher Memorial and two $10,000 California Sire Stakes headline Saturday night’s Watch and Wager LLC program at Cal Expo.

The Corley will be decided as the third on a 15-race card and the Conlin is the eleventh contest on the evening. The Kevin Tisher Memorial goes as the eighth race and the two Sire Stakes are set as non-betting events prior to the regular program.

David Siegel was able to work out a perfect two-hole journey with Whicadidja in the first leg of the Conlin and parlayed that into a length and a half score at 22-1 in the 1:55 2/5 tour. Whicadidja is a 5-year-old Ohio-bred son of Panspacificflight who hails from the Bernie Wolin barn and is co-owned by pilot Siegel, Bob Thronson and Greg Robinson. He has had his picture taken twice from five appearances on the year and figures to get a lot more respect at the windows this time around.

Frankly Scarlett accounted for last week’s opening leg of the Corley as she ignited in when clear to hang a neck decision on the pace-setting favorite Cache River. Frankly Scarlett is a 9-year-old daughter of Little Steven who carries the banner of Robert Bacon and is reined and trained by Steve Wiseman.

Looking at the Sire Stakes for the 4-year-old males, That A Space is coming off an upset over Ra Ra Steven in the most recent big-money clash for the pacing set, while El Azteca gets top billing among the trotters after turning in some powerful efforts at this meeting.

Kevin Tisher, who passed away last month at the age of 77, is being honored with the eighth race on Saturday. Tisher started his career with his father Clyde and was a longtime owner, breeder and trainer on the California circuit.

He served on the board of directors of the Western Standardbred Association and the California Harness Drivers Guild and was vice president of the California Harness Horse Breeders Association. Upon his retirement in 1990, Tisher started Hydro Horse Company, which produces underwater treadmill systems in use at both equine hospitals and training centers.

 

MOUSSELINE HANOVER LOOKS TO ASSERT HERSELF


If the second leg of the Michael Corley Series is anything like last week’s opener, we’re in for quite a race as the first four finishers were separated by a grand total of a half-length. Mousseline Hanover was third in that blanket finisher for owner/trainer Greg Watson and pilot Chip Lackey and is gunning for some revenge on Saturday.

“She’s an honest mare who gives you her best every time,” Lackey related when asked about the 9-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight. “She has some gate speed if you want to use it, and if you can reserve her to the stretch, she’ll give you a nice finish.”

Lackey left with Mousseline Hanover from the outside slot last week, sat a tracking trip to the stretch and came home in :27 and change to be right there. “I was very lucky to be able to drop in on the first turn, otherwise I would have had to use her pretty hard to make the lead,” Lackey noted. “This is pretty well-matched group of mares and it should be interesting.”

Chip would love nothing more than to take down the crown in the Corley Series with this gal for Watson. “Greig is a very good trainer and even a better friend. When I was hurt, he was there to help, and the same thing when I go on vacation. It’s always extra nice to win for him.”