Cal Expo Sunday Barn Notes

Race honors memory of Alan Kirschenbaum

By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

Sunday’s program at Cal Expo features the Alan Kirschenbaum Series consolation and a $10,000 California Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies.

A 12-race card is on tap with first post set for 4:40 p.m. The Alan Kirschenbaum is the fifth event on the evening, while the Sire Stakes occupies the eighth-race slot on the program.

The Alan Kirschenbaum Series is named for the longtime owner and breeder and past president of the California Harness Horsemen’s Association. He died in October of 2012. 

Kirschenbaum was a major factor in California as an owner, breeder and amateur driver for many years. With his stallions Little Steven and British Sterling standing at Cherry Tree Farm in Wilton, he helped support the industry in California.

For several years, he even waived his stallion fees to help the California horsemen breed their mares to help the horse population survive in the Golden State. He was also a huge supporter of the California Sire Stakes and amateur races.

Looking at the Series consolation, Im Fasterthanu comes into this assignment riding a four-race winning streak for owner Fabiola Quevado, trainer Edwin Quevedo and pilot Luke Plano. Her most recent score came last week while doing her work over a sloppy track.

The field for the Sire Stakes will line up this way from the rail out: Duet with Steve Wiseman; Perfect Pitch, Mooney Svendsen; Brewski, who will have the services of Luke Plano; J’s Littlerockstar for James Kennedy; De Valeria with Dave Siegel; La Diva De Rosa, Bruce Clarke; and Clara Bea, who leaves from the outside with Chip Lackey in the sulky.

Strings proves victorious in Golden State return

Strings put her class on display here last week when she proved a punctual 1-9 favorite in a conditioned event, but now it’s time for the 4-year-old mare to get a little R and R according to trainer Gene Vallandingham.

The California-bred daughter of Hi Ho Silverheels, who races for Little Bapa LLC, has multiple Sire Stakes trophies on her mantle with over $170,000 in the bank and a 1:50 3/5 mark that was established this year at Pocono Downs.

Prior to her last start here, Strings had been doing her work over the half-mile Yonkers track in New York and plans call for the distaffer to return to points East next spring after spending the chilly months in the moderate California climate.

“She came in from Yonkers about a week before her race here,” Vallandingham noted. “I wasn’t too concerned about the traveling and missing a start, considering the field she was facing. She went her usual good race.

“The plan all along was to give her the one race, then send her to the farm for about six weeks. I want her to pick up 80 pounds and then come back and get ready around the end of January. She’s up at Rick Kuebler’s place in El Dorado County where they have some nice big paddocks.”

Strings is being pointed for a number of late-closing events on the East Coast next spring and a few comeback starts over this layout in March and April will get her nice and tight for the return invasion.

Gene tips that she’s not the only big gun under his care who is spending the winter in California and will be seen in action here later in the session. The likes of Smooth Criminal and American Venture are also taking it easy at the farm right now and will at some point show up at Cal Expo to seriously stretch their legs.