Veteran Ray’s Rayzer
sharp for Quevedo
By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Ray’s Rayzer has been the
darling of the longshot players of late, getting the job done at 29-1 two weeks
ago and 9-1 at most recent asking for trainer Edwin Quevedo.
Considering that leading
driver Luke Plano has been in the sulky for both those scores, it becomes even
more interesting that this 13-year-old pacer has been allowed to go off at such
long odds.
“I bought him about four
years ago in Minnesota,” Quevedo related. “If you saw him around the barn, you
would say he acts more like a 4 or 5-year-old. He loves to pony, he loves to
train and he loves to race.”
The long odds on Ray’s Rayzer
were a result of his three starts between February 4 and February 25, where he
was beaten double digits on each occasion and appeared to be off his game.
Joining forces with Plano on
March 3, he rode a second-over trip to the a neck score and the $60 mutuel,
then came right back last weekend with a deja-vu mile while rewarding his
backers to the tune of $21 with Plano once again doing the honors.
“He had some problems behind
that we had to take care of,” his trainer noted. “I also think the warmer
weather and faster track helps him. I’ve had a lot of success with Luke, and
with a horse like this who likes to come from off the pace, the trip is always
important.”
Silverlode puts winning
streak on the line
Silverlode, who has been the
dominant player in the trotting ranks this year, once again will be asked to
overcome the demanding assigned 10 post as she heads the field for Saturday
evening’s Open Trot.
The main event will go as the
second event on a 12-race program presented by Watch and Wager LLC. First post
is set for 6:10 p.m.
Silverlode is an 8-year-old
homebred daughter of British Sterling out of the Website mare Charlotte’s Web
who is owned by Desomer Stables Inc, trained by Vickie Desomer and will have
Luke Plano handling the lines.
Silverlode comes into this
assignment with $152,000 in her bank account and a 1:55 1/5 mark that was
established over this track last season. She is perfect in three starts on the
year, putting her versatility and class on display in the process.
The Desomer colorbearer left
into a pocket journey in the January 13 Open and overpowered favored arch-rival
Flameon that evening. She has been 1-5 in her last two outings without that foe
in the line-up and has not disappointed her many backers.
Silverlode looped the field
to prevail by four and a half-lengths on February 11, then captured the most
recent Open clash on February 24 while doing her work from this same assigned
No. 10 post position in game fashion.
Completing the cast are My
Little Susie with Mooney Svendsen; Kickitinwithkohler, James Kennedy; Lodi
Dorian Blues with Steve Wiseman; Silverhill Volo, Chip Lackey and Blue Spark,
who will leave from the rail with Sean Smithpeters in the sulky.
