Sunday racing returns with Robert Staats Series
By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Two
divisions of the first leg of the Robert Staats Series for pacing fillies and
mares and an Open III Pace headed by Lieutenant Steve have the Cal Expo
spotlight on Sunday night.
There
will be 10 races on tap Sunday with first post set for 5:10 p.m. The Staats
divisions will go as the third and fourth on the program, with the Open III
Pace set as the seventh event on the evening.
Mistup
Magic figures to have her share of supporters in the first Staats contest for
the solid combination of owner Ed Actkinson, trainer Bob Johnson and pilot
Mooney Svendsen as she faces distaff-only company for the first time at this
meet.
The
dark-hued 3-year-old daughter of Dragon Again proved a punctual 1-9 favorite on
October 31, then stepped up to face a tougher group last week and ended up in a
dead-heat for second behind heavily-favored V Mack in that affair.
Lieutenant
Steve has been assigned the outside post in the co-featured Open III Pace and
will be looking for his second win at the meeting from four appearances. The
gelding carries the banner of A Piece Of The Action LLC with Gene Vallandingham
the conditioner and Chip Lackey at the controls.
The
Ohio-bred son of Look Sharp was a game winner on opening night, then had to settle
for the show money at next asking while being sent off the 1-2 choice. He was
third in a blanket finish at this level in his last trip to the post behind two
performers who were scheduled to race in an Open II event on Saturday.
Taking
him on Sunday from the rail out: Who Dat Love for Craig Fletcher;
Outlawndangruwatrs with Dave Siegel; Bettor’s Promise, Chip Lackey; Dark Prince
with Luke Plano; Total Classic, James Kennedy; and Toughest Of All for Ron
Malette.
Frankthebank will attempt another deposit
Frankthebank,
the epitome of the blue-collar pacer, is set to make start No. 400 when he
suits up Sunday night at Cal Expo.
A
13-year-old son of Sportsmaster, Frankthebank is looking to add to a $452,000
bank account while competing for Rick and Marlene Thomas, taking his lessons
from George Reider with Dave Siegel handling the lines. He set his 1:51
lifetime standard four years ago.
The
fan favorite has had to settle for minor awards in his first three appearances
at this stand since returning from Minnesota, but it hasn’t been for lack of
trying, including last week’s outing where he was parked the trip from the
demanding 10 post.
“Frankthebank
is about as classy as a veteran pacer can be,” said Siegel. “He can be driven
any way you want. In fact, I’m not sure he really needs a driver because he
knows what to do and does it well.
“Rick
and Marlen adore him and he gets the best of care in the Reider barn. Simply
put, he’s not the proverbial Cadillac to drive, he’s a Rolls, or rather a Tesla
to put it in 2015 terms.”
This
particular Tesla will be leaving from the No. 7 post in the 10th and
final race on Sunday’s program.
*****
A
reminder there are two wagers on the program that comes with a reduced 16
percent takeout rate. They are the 50-cent Pick 5, which this season features a
25 percent minor pool payout; and the 20-cent Pick 4, which comes with a
$25,000-guaranteed gross pool.
