Jessesjo gets his chance to shine
By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Jessesjo
has turned in two big efforts at this meeting following a 17-month layoff,
finishing second to El Azteca on both occasions, but won’t have that rival to
worry about when he suits up for Sunday’s featured Open II Trot.
Jessesjo
is an 8-year-old son of Jailhouse Jesse who is owned by Mark Anderson and races
out of the Gordie Graham barn. He has really impressed his veteran pilot Chip
Lackey, who had never sat behind the trotter before his October 24 qualifier.
“I
was told he was returning from an injury and a long layoff and to see how he
finished,” Lackey related. “I have to tell you, I’ve driven some very nice
trotters, but I’ve never had one give me the acceleration he did in that
qualifier.”
After
easily capturing a second qualifier, Jessesjo has completed the exacta behind
course-loving El Azteca in two clashes at the head of the class. He actually
showed the way to deep stretch before getting collared in their meeting two
weeks ago, then sat the pocket behind that rival at most recent asking through
some pedestrian fractions and once again had to be happy with second money.
“He
made a little break at the start in that first race, but it was mostly my fault
because I tried to rush him away from there,” Chip explained. “Last time, I
took a little hold for the first few steps to let him settle and he was away perfectly.”
El
Azteca, who was leaving from the assigned No. 10 post for the second straight
time, was able to make the top by the half in a crawling 1:01 for Luke Plano,
with the pocket-sitting Jessesjo trying hard but unable to cut into the margin
in the stretch.
“We
got bottled up and never really got a clear shot, and he did come home in :26
and change,” Lackey said. “You can’t ask for more than that.”
Open II Trot
getting marquee treatment
Jessesjo,
who has raced in the shadow of El Azteca in his first two appearances at this
stand, looms the solid favorite in Sunday night’s featured Open II Trot.
There
will be a 10-race program presented under the Watch and Watch LLC banner with
the headliner going as the sixth event. First post will be 6:10 p.m.
Jessesjo
is an 8-year-old son of Jailhouse Jesse who comes into this assignment with
$236,000 in his bank account and a 1:53 4/5 career standard. He will be making
his third start since returning for 17-month layoff. Mark Anderson owns, he
hails from the Gordie Graham barn and Chip Lackey will once again do the
honors.
In
both his local tries he has completing the exacta behind El Azteca in solid
efforts. He showed the way into the
stretch in the first of those match-ups but was unable to contain the winner,
then sat a pocket trip after being used early in their last meeting and could
not overtake the favorite while holding off the rest.
Flameon will give the Mark Anderson/Gordie Graham team
two strong looks at the outcome Pat Galbraith handling the lines. The Angus
Hall homebred took the measure of conditioned company two weeks ago, then put
in a good mile to be third behind El Azteca and his stablemate in last week’s
Open I Handicap event.
Franks
Best comes into Sunday’s main event with $230,000 in earnings and he has
several Sire Stakes trophies on his mantle. Bob Johnson owns, trains and bred
the son of Armbro Scribe and Mooney Svendsen will be in his usual spot in the
sulky.
Completing
the field are Franky Provolone, who is making his second start on the comeback
trail with Steve Wiseman guiding; and a pair from the Marissa Tyler barn in
Claim Jumper and Quantum Uptown Boy.
