Flores and Bertrand’s Jailer
looks to lock up another
By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Jailer
comes into this weekend riding a two-race winning streak for Rick Bertrand, who
drives, trains and co-owns the 4-year-old trotter with Doug Flores.
The
sharp trotter suits up in Saturday’s sixth race, where he has the outside slot
in the field of six with Rick doing the honors in the conditioned affair.
Bertrand and Flores are also represented in the fourth race with the
aptly-named Winonefordoug, who also drew the outside post.
Jailer
has been a punctual favorite in his last two appearances, overcoming the
demanding No 10 post on March 28 and returning last week to work out a pocket
trip from the cozy rail slot en route to a length and a half decision.
“Doug
and I purchased Jailer from Ken Booher and Chuck Taylor in Michigan,” Bertrand
related. “Ken really liked him and said he was a really nice horse and probably
wouldn’t even sell him, but at this time in his life he only wants one horse
and had just bought a 2-year-old.”
Doug
Flores is a California native who retired a few years ago from a hobby shop he
owned and operated with his wife Lorraine. He always enjoyed coming out to the
races and eventually Rick asked him if he wanted to go 50-50 on a horse.
“By
now, we’ve owned a couple dozen horses,” Bertrand explained, “including the
pacer we decided to rename Winonefordoug. That said, I know Jailer has become
one of Doug’s favorites.”
*******
A
reminder that there are four wagers offered each night that come with a reduced
16% takeout rate. They are the Jackpot 6 and Hi-5, which are both 10-cent
minimum bets; the 50-cent Pick Pick 5; and the 20-cent Pick 4, which has a
$25,000-guaranteed pool as part of the USTA Strategic Wagering Program.
Sire
Stakes brings out talented sophomore pacers
A
$10,000 California Sire Stakes for the 3-year-old pacing colts featuring
Uringoodhands, Lodi Machette Man and Hi Ho’s Little Rev gets the marquee
treatment at Cal Expo Saturday night.
A
12-race program is on tap under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post
set for 6:10 p.m. The Sire Stakes occupies the 5th-race slot on the card.
Uringoodhands
has accounted for four of the six stakes races decided at the meet for this
group and gets the top billing this weekend. The son of Kent’s On Nuke races
for Mark Anderson, hails from the Gordie Graham barn and will once again have
the services of James Kennedy.
Uringoodhands
won the first Sire Stakes for this group on January 17, just missed in the next
one and then rattled off three straight big-money scores, including his March
14 romp where he set his mark of 1:55 flat. He had to settle for the runner-up
prize in the most recent stakes dance two weeks ago behind upsetter Lodi Machette
Man.
The latter is a Little Steven offspring who iks owned
by Mary Harris and Pierre Girard, takes his lessons from Girard and will have
Luke Plano in the sulky. Plano was guiding the colt for the first time in that
last stakes dance on March 28, gave him a perfect pocket trip and he responded
with a length and three-quarters tally. He returned with another conditoned
victory last weekend.
Hi
Ho’s Little Rev earned his stakes trophy on January 31, holding off
Uringoodhands by a neck that night for the decision. Vanessa Gilliam owns, Bob
Johnson trains and Mooney Svendsen will guide.
Rounding
out the field are Shotgun Rider, who gives the Johnson barn two looks at the
outcome with Steve Wiseman in the sulky; Laissezmoipicoler with Williams Hernandez;
and Sounion, who has the services of Tim Maier.
