Lackey hits
milestone and Its Not Over
By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
When
he guided Bloomfieldcantifly to an $18 upset last Saturday night, Chip Lackey
was recording victory No. 3,400 in the sulky while adding to over $15 million
in earnings in the process.
The
veteran pilot was back in the winner’s circle the following night, this time
after guiding Its Not Over to a coast-to-coast score in the Open Trot for his
longtime collaborator Bob Johnson. It was the second straight tally at the top
rung for that performer.
“I
drove Its Not Over a few times as a 2-year-old and won a couple of Sire Stakes,
but this meet was the first time I’d driven him since then,” Lackey related. “I
know they gave him plenty of time off last year and he needed his first start
here after coming back from Hoosier.”
Its
Not Over was fourth in that outing, but has since scored back-to-back victories
in the Open under Lackey’s direction, on both occasions taking the measure of
heavily-favored El Azteca. “Watching his two wins at Hoosier, it looked like he
was best when he was covered up and then could kick home. That’s the way I
drove him in the first win here and he gave me a real nice brush.”
Chip
changed tactics in the most recent gathering at the head of the trotting class,
buzzing Its Not Over away from there and making every pole a winning one. He
repulsed a strong first-over bid from El Azteca that night to prevail by a
length and a quarter.
“Silence
Son was off the gate to my inside, and El Azteca was off it to my outside, so
with both of those horses lagging I decided to let my horse roll out of there,”
Lackey explained. “I got a pretty easy lead, and when El Azteca came up to us
and turned it into a sprint for home, I was pretty confident.
“It’s
also very special to drive this horse for the owners Rich Dryden and Debbie
Budahn. My mother passed away two months ago, and they were responsible for
giving her some of the best memories of the last few years.”
Razor-sharp performers headline Open Trot
Its
Not Over, fresh from back-to-back victories at the head of the class; and El
Azteca, who has had to settle for second in both those events as the favorite;
get another chance to settle the score in Sunday evening’s featured Open Trot.
An
11-race card is on tap with first post set for 4:40 p.m. The trotters and
pacers are now in action on Saturday and Sunday nights, with Friday racing
being added to the schedule beginning on December 26.
Its
Not Over is a 4-year-old Panama Hanover homebred who races for Richard Dryden
and Debra Budahn, takes his lessons from Bob Johnson and has Chip Lackey at the
controls. A 1:55 2/5 winner at Hoosier Park in late September, he is looking
for his seventh snapshot on the season from 12 trips to the post.
After
a needed effort on October 25 where he had to settle for fourth behind El
Azteca, Its Not Over has been able to turn the tables in their last two
meetings at this top level. He played the role of stalker on November 1, then
took matters into his own hands and went coast-to-coast in the most recent
clash and held safe by a length and a quarter.
El Azteca is another Panama Hanover offspring and he
is owned, trained and was bred by Marco Rios. James Kennedy once again has the
assignment as the 5-year-old attempts to add to a $123,000 bank account while
sporting a 1:54 3/5 career standard that was established in May at Hoosier
Park.
El
Azteca was very game getting the job done in his first two starts at this
meeting, was hard used early when being overtaken by Its Not Over two back and
then was first-over in their latest joust and again had to settle for the
exacta completion.
Taking
on this dynamic duo are Sharpshotennorris, who leaves from the cozy rail slot
for Steve Wiseman; Franky Provolone with Bruce Clarke handling the lines; and
Silence Son, who will have the services of Dave Siegel.
