By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
With
Gary Seibel taking a week off for a family obligation, Cal Expo is pleased to
have Frank Mirahmadi handling the announcing duties on Friday and Saturday.
Mirahmadi,
who began his career at Hollywood Park in 1992, just wrapped up another season
as the voice of the prestigious Oaklawn Park meeting in Hot Springs, Arkansas,
and will once again be calling the action on the Northern California fair
circuit this summer.
Frank
is also well known as a TVG racing analyst, for his appearances in several
racing movies and his spot-on impressions of personalities both in and out of
racing.
“I
started going to harness races at Hollywood Park and Los Alamitos in the
80's when I was in high school.” he noted. “We had a blast and I still remember
many of the horses.
“My
favorite was Courageous Red. He was so talented and very consistent.
I always bet on him and was frequently rewarded.”
It
may surprise some people that Mirahmadi will actually be calling his first
harness race Friday evening. “I attempted to call one harness race, at a fair
in Michigan from the infield in the voice of Marv Albert back in
1999. This will be my debut as I can't really even consider that an
official call.
“It's
definitely going to be a challenge. My top priority is to never use the
words ‘run’ or ‘running’ in my calls. I’m really looking forward to it and was
very happy to get the call from management.”
Sophomore Sire
Stakes get marquee treatment
A
pair of $10,000 California Sire Stakes featuring Brewski in the pacing event
and Placer in the trotting affair headline the Friday night Cal Expo program
that gets under way at 6:15 p.m.
De Valeria was runner-up in that affair is another offspring of Little Steven and is a multiple stakes victress for owner Eugene Afentoulis and driver/trainer Steve Wiseman. Her most recent added-money decision came on February 28 over a sloppy track with former trainer Luke Plano in the sulky.
J’s Littlerockstar rattled off back-to-back Sire Stakes tallies in March, but made a break as the 3-5 choice in that last gathering on April 11. James Kennedy owns, trains, drives and bred the bay filly. She will be looking to return to her best form while back with her peers.
Placer is a homebred son of Panama Hanover who carries the banner of Desomer Racing Stables Inc. with Steve Desomer in his usual place in the bike. He has accounted for four of the last six Sire Stakes for the division, including two weeks ago when he hung a neck decision on Snuff N Bear as the even-money favorite.
The latter is a New Age Hanover colt who is owned
and was bred by Mary Harris, takes his lessons from Kennedy Lindsey and will be
guided by James Kennedy. He was a dominating winner of the February 28
get-together for this group and has just missed in the last two stakes clashes
behind Ahh Panama and Placer.
The racing continues Saturday evening with a Sire
Stakes contest for the 3-year-old pacing colts that rematches the most recent
trophy earner Laissez Moi Passer with previous stakes victors King Of The Crop
and Rikybrnthegaragdwn.
