By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Even
if Stables Eyes goes the rest of the meet without winning a race, she won’t owe
her backers a thing.
In
her last two appearances, the Tim Clevenger owned, trained and driven mare has
reported to the winner’s circle at 13-1 and most recently at 35-1, and she’ll
try to pull off the hat trick in Sunday’s feature.
The
6-year-old Million Dollar Cam mare did the majority of the heavy lifting
herself two weeks ago when she captured the Distaff Open II, then worked out a
perfect trip with Clevenger in last week’s tour and rallied up the rail for
that $72 surprise against one mare and five boys.
There
is something for every type of handicapper in Sunday’s headliner. Class players
are likely to line up behind Rusty Shipp, who has had the thankless task of
squaring off against the streaking St Lads Lotto at the top level in his two
appearances since shipping in from Pennsylvania for Ray Burt.
In
addition to Stable Eyes, those who like the sharp horse on the upswing angle
will be embracing Bit Player, who has worked his way up from the lowest
claiming level and will be gunning for his fourth straight tally for trainer
Patricia Minnella and pilot Luke Plano.
******
Fans
are reminded that are four wagers offered here each night that come with a
reduced 16% takeout rate. They are the 50-cent Pick 5; the 10-cent Jackpot 6;
the 20-cent Pick 4; and the 10-cent Hi-Five on the nightcap.
By
the way, last Sunday when there were mandatory payouts, the Jackpot 6 returned
$2,106 for 10 cents. A 10-cent parlay on the same six horses would have been
worth $87. Talk about value.
Contentious
cast set for Sunday main event
Sunday’s
feature brings out an interesting field of pacers, with class-dropping Rusty
Skipp; the streaking Bit Player and the sharp mare Stable Eyes among the major
players.
First
post for the Sunday Watch and Wager LLC card is 4:40 p.m. and there will be 10
races on the program. The feature is set as the eighth contest on the evening.
Rusty
Skipp is getting some serious class relief in this spot after chasing home St
Lads Lotto at the Open level in his two starts since coming in from Pocono
Downs. Ray Burt conditions the son of Dragon Again for Roslyn Delgaudio and
Williams Hernandez will handle the lines.
Rusty
Skipp comes into this assignment just shy of the $200,000 earnings plateau with
a 1:51 4/5 mark that was established last season at Dover Downs. He has six
victories from 36 starts this year and will appreciate the easier company after
knocking heads with the best on the grounds in his first two outings here.
Bit
Player is seeking for his fourth straight trip to the winner’s circle while
once again climbing the class ladder for Emilio Cisneros and trainer Patricia
Minella. His last three scores have come with Luke Plano at the helm while
taking the measure of $3,000 and $4,000 claimers, with a 1:53 flat
lifetime-best tour two weeks ago.
Stable
Eyes is looking for a hat trick after having posted upsets at 13-1 and 35-1 in
her last two trips to the post for owner/driver/trainer Tim Clevenger. The
6-year-old Millon Dollar Cam mare was a 1:53 2/5 victress earlier this year at
Hoosier Park.
Rounding
out the field are Love Live Laugh with Tim Maier; County Jewel, who will have
the services of Dave Sigel; Laissez Moi Passer; Mattox’s Spencer with James
Guagliardo; and No Gin, who gives the Burt barn two looks at the outcome with
James Kennedy in the bike.
