By
Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
They say age is just a number,
but sometimes those numbers can really add up.
As the field passed the opening
quarter in last Friday night’s ninth race, Tour Guide showed the way with
Rather Be Playing in the pocket and Early Boy looming in third. Nothing really
unusual there as the field straightened for the backstretch in the conditioned
trot.
However, trackman Marty Bridges
pointed out something interesting about the three drivers who were guiding
these leaders – Steve Desomer, Pierre Girard and Gene Vallandingham. “If you
add their ages together, that’s 219 years and that might be some kind of a
record.”
We checked Marty’s math and he
was right on. Steve Desomer is 77, Gene Vallandingham turned 73 in September
and Pierre Girard had 69 candles on his last birthday cake. By the way, Gene
ended up winning the race while relative youngster Luke Plano completed the
exacta and 20-year-old driving sensation Tyler Smith finished in the show spot.
Vallandingham comes into this
week’s action needing just 22 victories to reach the 3,000 plateau while
sporting over $13 million in earnings. He was asked what it’s like to come down
the stretch with a 20-year-old who could easily be his grandson whipping and
shouting in the sulky next to him.
“It doesn’t make any
difference,” Gene related. “Heck, I only feel about 29 when I’m out there, so I
don’t mind driving against somebody who’s only nine years younger. By the way,
the kid (Smith) is doing a very good job.”
A Stitch In Time headlines Sire Stakes
A
Stitch In Time, a romping winner of the last two big-money gatherings for the
division, looks to add to his reputation in Saturday night’s $10,000 California
Sire Stakes for the newly-turned 4-year-old pacing males.
A
15-race card is on tap with first post set for 5:20 p.m. The headliner will go
as the second race on the evening, with the co-feature being a $5,000
Invitational Pace that occupies the third-race slot on the program.
A
Stitch In Time is a son of Kent’s On Nuke who is owned and was bred by Mark
Anderson, takes his lessons from Gordie Graham and has Mooney Svendsen handling
the lines. He comes into this contest having posed for pictures in 11 of his 16
starts, including a 1:53 3/5 lifetime-best performance at Fraser Downs in
October.
The
dark-hued pacer was a prohibitive favorite in the two stakes decided so far as
this meeting and did not disappoint on either occasion. He waltzed home with 10
lengths to spare in the November 16 affair, then came back two weeks later as
the 1-9 choice and had six and a quarter lengths on his nearest rival when all
was said and done.
Lining
up against him this weekend are Hi Ho Disguise, who will have Dave Siegel at
the controls; Kablooie with Luke Plano; Orlando’s Express, who has the services
of Chip Lackey; Bit Player, Steve Wiseman; and Me Tarzan with James Kennedy
giving directions.
Looking
at the Invitational Pace, One And Only has been assigned the outside slot after
posing a convincing victory at this level two weeks ago. The 5-year-old son of
Bettor’s Delight carries the banner of Richard Morita and David Yamada with
Lino Pacheco training and Luke Plano in the bike.
One
And Only was able to work out a pocket journey behind pace-setting Steuben
Jumpinjack in that last Invite clash, engaged that rival at the top of the
stretch and drew off to a five-length score in a sharp 1:52 2/5 tour. Stueben
Jumpinjack will again be among his rivals along with Doc’s Zippy, It’s Getting
Hairy and Party Cove.
BEGINNING
THIS WEEKEND, THERE WILL BE A $10,000 GUARANTEED 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 SATURD
