Army Of One, Western
Devil do battle
By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Army Of One and Western
Devil, who have dominated the division this season, go at it once again in
Saturday night’s featured $6,500 California Sire Stakes for the 3-year-old
pacing males.
An 11-race card is on tap
under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post at 6:15 p.m. There will
also be a California Sire Stakes for the sophomore fillies to be decided as a
non-betting affair prior to the regular card.
Army Of One is a homebred son
of Hi Ho Silverheel’s and the Artsplace mare Aftermatch who races for Wayne and
Rod Knittel, takes his lessons from Bob Johnson and will as usual have Mooney
Svendsen guiding.
The Knittel performer
accounted for the first four Sire Stakes of the season in impressive fashion on
the frond end, but had to settle for second in the most recent big-money clash
on April 8 as Western Devil overpowered him in the final stages that evening.
The latter is a Power Of Art
homebred who races for Frank Nevarez, is conditioned by Edwin Quevedo and has
Luke Plano giving directions. After checking in second behind arch-rival Army
Of One in the three of the first four stakes gathering, he was able to turn the
table in that last one while coming home smartly.
Taking them on are Muscle
Beach, who also hails from the Johnson barn and will have Steve Wiseman in the
sulky; and Firstdibbs, who will have the services of James Kennedy.
Next week will feature the
final two nights of the current meet, with programs slated for Friday and
Saturday, May 5 and 6. Harness racing is scheduled to return to Cal Expo in
late October
Arnold, Bergstein lived
up to the billing
Last week’s Stan Bergstein
Trot and Lloyd Arnold Pace showcased some top performers, with Zoraze
scoring a decisive win in the former while I’m An Athlete hung a nose decision
on favored Barbarian in the Arnold.
Despite not having seen
evening action since January 13, Zoraze was certainly ready to rock and roll in
the Bergstein off a pair of qualifiers for the team of owner Jamie Marra,
trainer Sparky Clarke and pilot Luke Plano.
Zoraze left into a perfect
pocket trip from his No. 2 slot, took command on the final bend and then left
the field in his dust once straightened for home in a 1:56 peformance. At the
wire, it was some three and three-quarter lengths back to the hard-hitting mare
My Little Susie, with favored Flameon checking in third.
The Clarke/Plano team looked
poised to pull off the Bergstein/Arnold double with Barbarian the following
night, or at least that’s what the public thought as they sent Robert Orr
colorbearer off at 40 cents on the dollar.
I’m An Athlete had other
ideas, however, as the Lino Pacheco trainee proved ultra game on the front-end
for James Kennedy and prevailed by a nose over Barbarian in a 1:53 2/5 tour.
It was the fourth victory in
the last five starts for the 7-year-old son of Art Major, who carries the
banner of Ronald Rettig-Zucchi and pushed his career bankroll close to the
$140,000 mark with that decision.
