By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
We’ll
find out Sunday if there is going to be a changing of the guard at the head of
the 3-year-old trotting class here at Cal Expo.
The
first Sire Stakes of the meeting for this division is set, and while Placer was
pretty much the dominating sidewheeler when the last added-money races were
being decided earlier in the year, at least a couple of serious challengers
have emerged in the interim.
Placer
is a 3-year-old son of Panama Hanover out of the Website mare Charlotte’s Web
who picked up five stakes trophies at the last meet for his owner/breeders
Steve and Vickie Desomer, including a lifetime-best 2:00 2/5 score back in
April.
He
comes into this $10,000 contest a bit rusty when compared to main rivals Bank
Of Lodi and Ahh Panama, however. “I’m afraid Placer is the victim of a big
heart and a bad gait,” Vickie related when asked about the gelding. “He does
keep trying, though.”
Meanwhile,
Bank Of Lodi suits up for Sunday’s stakes having posed for snapshots following
three of his last four starts for his owner/breeders Mary Harris and Pierre
Girard and new best friend Luke Plano.
“She’s
catching up with those other 3-year-olds now and the experience is really
helping,” Girard explained. “This filly is a natural puller, and even though
we’ve tried different types of bits and
bridles, that’s just the way she likes it. I can tell you that jogging her is
like a visit to the gym.”
Ahh
Panama is the only other member of the field with a stakes trophy on her
mantle, having taken advantage of a miscue by heavily-favored Placer in the
March 28 get-together for this group. She makes things very interesting if she
comes with her best race for Bob Johnson and pilot Steve Wiseman.
Sire Stakes
matches 3-year-old trotters
A
$10,000 California Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotters is on tap at Cal Expo
Sunday night, with Bank Of Lodi, Placer and Ahh Panama among the major players
in the field of eight.
The
headliner goes as the 10th event on the 12-race card with a first
post of 4:40 p.m. Racing is now being conducted on Saturday and Saturday nights
under the Watch and Wager LLC banner, with Fridays being added to the mix
beginning December 26.
Bank
Of Lodi is a homebred daughter of New Age Hanover and the Armbro Rotary mare
Bankers Babe who is owned by Mary Harris and Pierre Girard, is conditioned by
Girard and will have Luke Plano at the controls.
The
bay miss rattled off three straight wins here between November 9 and 23, making
every pole a winning one on each occasion. She stepped up in class and was
fifth in her most recent appearance last week after doing her work from the
tough No. 9 post position.
Placer is already a multiple stakes winner for her
breeder Desomer Stables Inc. with Vickie Desomer training and husband Steve
handling the lines. She established her 2:00 1/5 career standard in a March
Sire Stakes and should appreciate getting back with her peers.
Ahh
Panama was also a Sire Stakes heroine on March and looms large this weekend.
Bob Johnson trains the daughter of Panama Hanover and is co-owner along with
Henry Wieseneck and Martin Garey and Steve Wiseman will be in the sulky.
Rounding
out the cast are Rather Be Playing, who gives the Girard barn two looks at the
outcome with the trainer at the helm; Snuff N Beer, Bruce Clarke; Manley
Stanley, to be handled by Tim Maier; Panama Lady, Mooney Svendsen; and Dreaming
of Kaui, who leaves from the outside with Mike Jarvis.
