$11,464
Hi-Five carryover
With 30K
guarantee spices Saturday card
By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo
Harness
An
$11,464 carryover in the 20-cent Hi-Five with a $30,000-guaranteed gross pool
puts the spotlight squarely on Saturday night’s ninth race.
The
carryover is courtesy of last Sunday evening’s nitecap. While the victorious
Pismo Beach was not that hard to find at $11.40, the fact that favored Becky B
Skipalong was off the ticket coupled with 28-1 Lust finishing second and 4-1
Majestic Lass checking in fourth was enough to make it unattainable.
Saturday’s
ninth race finds a field of nine going postward with Windsun T Bird the 2-1
morning line favorite from the cozy rail slot. Brandon Bragg owns the
9-year-old mare with Luke Plano driving and training and she has been knocking
on the door in her last two appearances.
******
Saturday’s Lonnie
Beck Series is named for the late owner/breeder who was such a major influence
in California harness racing.Lonnie Beck was one of the most important owner/breeders of the last several decades while campaigning some of the top performers on the West Coast, including Givmewhatineed, his son Ivegotwhatuneed and Mel’s Best, just to name a few.
Bob Johnson was among his trainers and remembers him with much respect.
“Lonnie
was a good owner and very important to California as an owner and a breeder,
especially during the time we needed it most,” Johnson said. “I remember one
year we went to the Harrisburg sale and he bought 12 horses to bring back here
to race. He made a big difference.”
Lonnie Back Series, pair of Opens slated
The
opening leg of the Lonnie Beck Series; a $6,600 Filly-Mare Open Pace headed by
Party Hangover Two and a $5,500 Open II Pace are the main attractions on
Saturday night’s Cal Expo program.
There
will be 11 races presented under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with a first
post of 6:15 p.m., with the ninth race featuring an $11,464 carryover in the
20-cent Hi-Five with a $30,000-guaranteed gross pool.
The
Lonnie Beck Series is designed for California Sire Stakes-eligible 3-year-olds
and a field of six will face the starter. Bob Johnson sends out a pair in
Mathachusetts and Allymyx’sliveintexas and they will be joined by Be My Lucky
Lady from the Steve Wiseman barn; the Vickie Desomer-conditioned Rock Of Ages
and One More Chance, who hails from the Junior Wilkinson shedrow.
The
Distaff Open will kick off the program and Party Hangover Two will be looking
for her third trip to the winner’s circle from her last four appearances. The
5-year-old Party Artsplace mare is owned by Plestad, Arnstine and Chambers and
is reined and trained by Steve Wiseman.
Party
Hangover Two has been assigned the demanding No. 10 position in the field of
seven after crushing her rivals at 4-5 in last week’s outing. Wiseman sat a
tracking trip early in that affair, attacked on the final bend and went on to a
three and a half-length score with a 1:53 2/5 clocking.
The
victory pushed her lifetime earnings to $113,000 and she established her career
standard of 1:52 4/5 over this track last season. Even with that marooned post,
Party Hangover Two is going to very tough right back this weekend.
Taking
her on, from the rail out, are Lady’s Art, La Madawna De Rosa,
Poorlittlerichgirl, Rag Doll, Part Time Lady and Secret Alibi. The Lonnie Beck
will immediately follow as the second race and the Open II is scheduled as the
fifth event on the program.
