By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Friday’s
15-race program is headed by the Stuart A. Wiener Memorial Pace; a California
Sire Stakes featuring Show Runner and two divisions of the second leg of the
Dr. Gary Budahn Trotting Series. First post is 5:20 p.m. (PDT).
The
Stuart A. Wiener Memorial is named for the man who has raced trotters and
pacers with his wife Wendi since 1990. They were married for 42 years and he
passed away on Dec. 5 from a heart infection at the age of 65. He is also
survived by his daughter Jennifer, her husband Jon and a 10-year-old grandson
Nathan.
“He
was CFO at Health Science College in Henderson, Nevada and enjoyed his work,
but it was his love of horses that really showed through,” Wendi said. “Our first
horse was Shot N, who we had with Ross Croghan, and he is still on the farm.
Stu loved everything about the game, including the betting, and a perfect union
was made.”
For
many years, the Wieners have raced their horses with trainer Nathalie Tremblay,
including their favorite pacer Bewareofthisaffair. Stuart’s name did appear on
some of the horses along with Wendi’s brother Alan Kraslow, but most of the
performers raced under her name.
“Stu
loved going to Sacramento and hanging out with the horses. We both loved
Nathalie and Dave (Kuri) and we have all been together so long that it’s not as
much a business as it is family. He even had the chance to jog a horse by
himself once, and he never stopped talking about it.
“Stu
really loved the horses and proof is that we have seven retired here on the
farm. Life was always interesting, especially on race night when we went to
Dish Network to watch every race. The last few months Stu actually felt good
and was even back to golf, but who knew.
“I
keep telling people that we need to celebrate Stu’s life. Even with all the
health problems he had in the last several years, he had a pretty fantastic
life. It was the horses that actually lifted him at the worst times.”
Contentious
field set for Invitational Trot
A
well-matched field is set for Friday’s $5,000 Invitational Trot, with last
week’s upset winner K D Amazin Spirit taking on the stablemates Franks Best and
Inside Broadway and the hard-knocking Axle.
K D
Amazin Spirit is a 7-year-old son of Thadrow out of the Monterey Judge mare K D
Charm who is owned, trained and was bred by Keith Willey and will have xxxx at
the controls. He comes into this assignment with $104,000 in his account and a
1:54 2/5 mark that was established here earlier this season.
He
had no shown much in his first three starts since returning from Running Aces,
where he closed out that campaign with a win, but he certainly returned to top
form in last week’s clash at the head of the class. Plano motored him right to
the top, he set the fractions without a challenge and came home with nearly
four lengths to spare at nearly 16-1 that evening.
Franks
Best was runner-up in that affair as the 2-1 choice and figures to once again
get plenty of support. The Bob Johnson owned, trained and bred 6-year-old has
$185,000 in the bank, a slew of Sire Stakes trophies on the mantle and has
posed for pictures following three of his last six trips to the post here with
Mooney Svendsen handling the lines.
Inside
Broadway is a half-brother to Franks Best and gives Johnson another strong look
at the outcome. The 4-year-ood Broadway Hall offspring rattled off three
straight wins between November 9 and December 6 and has been burdened with the
outside posts in his last two appearances, including the demanding No. 10 slot
on December 13. James Kennedy will again be in the sulky.
Axle
is a Michigan-bred son of Hard Rock who figures right in the thick of things
with his best mile. He dead-heated for the win in a conditioned contest on November
22, but has had to settle for minor awards in the interim while doing his work
at this top rung. George Reider trains and David Siegel drives and they co-own
the performer with Robert Thronson and Greg Robinson.
BEGINNING THIS WEEKEND,
THERE WILL BE A $10,000 GUARANTED POOL FOR THE PICK 5 ON BOTH FRIDAY AND
SATURDAY. THE PICK 4 GUARANTEE CONTINUES TO BE $20,000 ON FRIDAYS AND $25,000
ON SATURDAYS.
