By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
De
Valeria is cut out to be a nice filly, being a full sister to the accomplished
Pacinello, and she’s beginning to realize that potential with back-to-back Sire
Stakes victories for owner Eugene Afentoulis and driver/trainer Luke Plano.
Pacinello
was a real terror here at Cal Expo, dominating his peers before heading on to
points East while making an occasional return visit. He has $347,000 in the
bank and a 1:50 2/5 mark.
His
sis De Valeria rode a second-over journey to capture the first big-money event
at this meeting for the sophomore pacing fillies on January 17, then did the
track-and-pounce to perfection last week for Luke to prove a punctual favorite
in the most recent stakes dance.
“Pacinello
was a champion, but since that the mare has had all fillies and while they
trained nicely, they’ve had issues between the ears that kept them for doing
their best,” Plano related.
Luke’s
dad Rick broke this filly in Florida and then trained her down in New York last
season, getting a good foundation under the daughter of Little Steven before
shipping her out to get ready for these stakes engagements.
“When
she got her she still had a few issues, including being a little aggressive away
from the gate, but she’s matured,” Luke explained. “She’s real nice to be
around and a very smart filly, and that’s half the battle right there.
“I’ve
been racing her from off the pace, because that’s the way the races have been
coming up for her, but I’m sure I could use her early if I had to and she would
be just as good. Last time it just worked out for me to sit in with her and
then she gave me a real nice finish.”
Open Pace, Marvin Shapiro Series in
spotlight
An
Open Pace that finds One And Only gunning for his sixth straight victory and
two divisions of the opening leg of the Marvin Shapiro Series get the marquee
treatment Saturday night at the Watch and Wager LLC meet at Cal Expo.
For
the second straight week, One And Only has been assigned the demanding No. 10
post position in the Open Pace. He will be challenged by A Stitch In Time, who
is having an outstanding meet; Giant Sculpture, Somethinginthewind, Doc’s Zippy
and Emery Vern.
One And
Only is a 6-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight who carries the banner of Richard
Morita and David Yamada, is conditioned by Lino Pacheco will once again have
Luke Plano giving directions. He sports a 1:52 2/5 standard that was
established here last season and was equaled in his most recent tour.
The bay performer started his
streak on December 21 and has been untouchable in the interim, putting his
class and versatility on display. He went coast-to-coast to get the job done in
his three starts between January 4 and 25, leaving little doubt on any of those
occasions.
In an effort to help
level the playing field last week, racing secretary Fred Kuebler assigned One
And Only the 10 slot. Unhurried early in that affair, Plano made a big move off
the final turn with the pacer and overpowered his rivals in the lane by two and
a quarter lengths while recorded the second 1:52 2/5 score of his career.
A Stitch In Time is a 4-year-old
son of Kent’s On Nuke homebred who is trained by Gene Vallandingham and will be
guided by Mooney Svendsen. He has made a sweep of the four Sire Stakes events
at this meeting for his group, but saw his win streak snapped two weeks ago
when he was second to One And Only in his most recent outing.
“That’s as good a race as he’s
ever gone for me,” Svendsen related after the runner-up finish. “He came that
final quarter in :26 2/5 and he would have definitely won if we would have come
first over and not had a roadblock ahead of us.” It certainly helps the cause
that his main rival has the 10 post this time around, while he leaves from the
No. 5 slot.
