By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Steve Desomer will be guiding his mare
Silverlode in Friday night’s finale of the Dr. Gary Budhan Trotting Series,
hoping to pick up another nice check with the 5-year-old homebred daughter of
the late British Sterling.
Silverlode, who has some Sires Stakes
trophies on her mantle, is attempting to win her second series finale at this
meet having captured the Joe Lighthill final in late November. She was second
and third in the first two legs of the Budahn behind Donna Letsgo and Hooray
Katie.
For the 77-year-old Desomer, he will be
making sulky appearance No. 12,701 in a career that has seen him land in the
winner’s circle on 2,609 occasions while banking nearly $11 million in the
process.
The veteran, who runs the barn along
with his wife Vickie, was asked how things have changed since the days of
Western Harness Racing at the soon to be demolished Hollywood Park.
“The racing has changed
dramatically since the days of Hollywood Park,” Steve related. “Back in the
70s, most of the drivers were also trainers. The horsemen were more
complete in that they had knowledge of shoeing, soundness, driving, rigging and
training and entering.
“Today many of the drivers specialize in
just driving. Driving against the likes of Tyler Smith and other young
drivers puts the older drivers at a distinct disadvantage in that they do not
react as quickly as needed. Most know the drivers and horses they race
against, but making that split second decision becomes more difficult with the
passing of time.”
GUARANTEES INCREASED
PICK 5- $10,000 BOTH NIGHTS
PICK 4 - $20,000 FRIDAY
PICK 4 - $25,000 SATURDAY
Dr. Gary Budahn Trotting Series finale in spotlight
The
$13,750 final of the Dr. Gary Budahn Trotting Series, with first and second leg
winners and stablemates Hooray Katie and Donna Letsgo figuring to get the
majority of the attention, is the main event on Friday night’s Cal Expo
program.
A
14-race card is on tap Friday evening, with the Budahn final set as the seventh
event on the program. First post is 5:20 p.m.
The
Dr. Gary Budahn Series honors the memory of a mainstay of California harness
racing for over 30 years who passed away in 2009.
Dr.
Budahn served on the board of directors of the California Harness Horsemen’s
Association (CHHA) for over 12 years, including President of the organization
for three years. He was a strong voice for harness racing in the state and was
always there for the horsemen, helping them in any way he could.
Looking
at the field, Hooray Katie is a 5-year-old daughter of Chip Chip Hooray who is
owned by William Neumeister, takes her lessons from Bob Johnson and will once
again be guided by Tyler Smith. She proved best in her divisions of the first
two legs of this event, last week showing the way home by a half-length over
Silverlode.
Donna Letsgo gives the Johnson barn two solid looks at
the outcome in the headliner. The Keystone Blitz mare is owned by the trainer,
Marty Garey and Henry Wiesenstock with Luke Plano doing the honors. In last
week’s penultimate leg, the bay miss made every pole a winning one and came
home with two and a quarter lengths to spare.
Completing
the field are High Dollar for Tim Maier; Bar Back, who has the services of
Steve Wiseman; Lodi Dorian Blues, Chip Lackey; Silverlode with Steve Desomer;
Sky Keeper for James Kennedy; Ali De Vie, to be handled by Gene Vallandingham;
and Southwind Kean, who leaves from the outside with Marc Mosher at the
controls.
