JIM DENNIS
FINALE, SIRE STAKES ON TAP
By
Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
The $12,150
final of the Jim Dennis Pacing Series, with the classy veteran Jovial Joker and
Phantom Dan in the leading roles; a $10,000 California Sire Stakes for the
3-year-old pacing colts and a $6,000 Open Pace get the marquee treatment
Saturday night at the Watch and Wager LLC meeting at Cal Expo.
The Dennis
finale is set as the fourth event on a 15-race card, while the Sire Stakes will
be decided as the second on the evening and the Open Pace occupies the
third-race slot.
Jovial Joker
looms the one to beat in the Dennis for owner Britney Dillon, trainer Gretchen
Smith and regular driver Luke Plano. The 13-year-old son of Life Sign comes
into this contest with some very impressive credentials, with $425,000 in his
account and a 1:49 2/5 career standard that was established eight years ago.
The dark-hued
pacer comes into this weekend having posed for pictures following four of his
seven trips to the post. Sent off the even-money choice in the first leg of the
series two weeks ago, he raced second-over to the lane and ignited when it
counted to prevail by a length. He passed last week’s second leg to await this
assignment.
With Jovial
Joker sitting out last week’s gathering, Phantom Dan was sent off the 8-5
choice and did not disappoint for owner/trainer/driver James Kennedy. The son
of Little Steven took command at the half, opened a clear advantage on the
final bend and went on to a three and half-length romp. The 1:54 1/5 clocking
shaved a full two seconds off his previous mark.
Rounding out
the field are Bookie Farout with Scott Cisco; Mister T-Rex, Bruce Clarke; Yuma,
to be handled by Tim Maier; Herzon with Mike Eaton in the sulky; and Red Star
Popeye, who does his work from the outside slot with Steve Wiseman at the
controls.
Hi Ho Disguise
will be gunning for back-to-back trophies in the Sire Stakes for owner/breeders
James Macola, Dan Tullio and Matias Ruiz with Ruiz the conditioner and Luke
Plano guiding. He will be challenged by Lebo Jones, Me Tarzan, Kablooie, Daring
Do, Bit Player and Winonefordoug.
********
Last Saturday
night saw huge payoffs in both the Pick 5 and Super High 5 wagers, which along
with the $1 Pick 4 feature a reduced 16 percent takeout rate. The Pick 4 also
sports a $20,000-guaranteed pool on Fridays and a $25,000 guarantee on
Saturdays. The winning 50-cent ticket Pick 5 was worth $8,380, while the
10-cent Super High 5 returned a cool $10,255.
To put things
into perspective, using the regular takeout rate, the Pick 5 payoff would drop
from $8,380 to $7,482, while that Super High 5 would have returned $9,156
instead of the $10,255 payday
LANGLEY REMEMBERS GOOD FRIEND JIM DENNIS
Saturday
evening Cal Expo is proud to honor the late Harness Hall of Fame driver/trainer
Jim Dennis, who had an outstanding career with many of his highlights coming in
California. Dennis piloted 2,677 winners while earning nearly $13 million and
passed away in 2004 at the age of 79.
USTA president
Phil Langley was good friends with Jim Dennis for over 50 years. “Jim was
honest and a true gentleman, and the type of person of whom you would never
hear a bad word. He was the best combined driver/trainer that I ever watched and
had some of the best horses I ever saw, including Adios Vic, Sir Dalrae, Mr.
Dalrae and Try Scotch.
Adios Vic is
remembered for handing the mighty Bret Hanover four of his only six lifetime
defeats. “He was an extremely fast horse who couldn’t handle the turns,”
Langley recalled. “Jim also did a tremendous job with Sir Dalrae, who was
converted from the trot, and his half-brother Mr. Dalrae.”
Phil and Jim,
along with their wives, spent lots of time together on and off the racetrack and
Langley looks back fondly at being there for his friend when Dennis was induced
into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2001.
“One of my
proudest moments is when I spoke at his induction, which is normally reserved
for family members,” Langley related. It was six years later that Phil was
himself inducted into the Hall of Fame.
