CakX1 - Friday Barn Notes

 

GORDON VICTORY A SPECIAL ONE FOR LACKEY

By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

 

Chip Lackey has recorded over 3,300 wins in his career, but relates very few have been as meaningful as last week’s victory with Lady’s Art in the Bob Gordon Pacing series final. 

The series honored the late Gordon, who was not only an excellent horseman, but an important figure in California harness racing history as a link between the backside and the frontside over several decades.
                                                                                                                                       
“It was truly an honor to win a race named for Bobby Gordon, because I had so much respect for him,” Lackey related. “He was a tremendous competitor both on and off the track and showed amazing courage when he battled his illness. The race not only saluted his accomplishments in racing, but in life.”

Sent off the 3-5 favorite, Lady’s Art tracked for a half-mile, attacked when Lackey pushed the button on the final bend and drew off to five and a half-length victory in a lifetime best 1:54 1/5 clocking. She carries the banner of Kenny Seastrom and Jim Kouretas.
                                                                                                                                          
“This filly actually has a connection to Bobby Gordon,” Lackey explained. “Her dam (Matawai N) was once owned in a partnership by Bobby and this is her second foal. It was a very gratifying win all the way around.”

 

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A reminder that there will be racing here Sunday night, with first post set for 5:10 p.m. Next week will the trotters and pacers in action on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (January 10-12).

 

DON’T HURRY LOVE EYES ANOTHER SNAPSHOT

 

Don’t Hurry Love, fresh from a convincing victory in the finale of the Bob Staats Pacing series, looks to win for the fourth time from six local appearances in Saturday night’s $4,400 main event at the Watch and Wager LLC session at Cal Expo.


The headliner is designed for pacing fillies and mares and will occupy the 13^th-race slot on a 15-race program that gets underway at 5:55 p.m. A field of nine is set to face the starter.
                                                                                                                                      
Don’t Hurry Love is a 3-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Dontgetinmyway who carries the banner of Ed Actkinson, hails from the Bob Johnson barn and has Mooney Svendsen once again giving directions. She has apparently found a home here in California as evidenced by her frequent trips to the charmed enclosure.

The dark-hued filly shipped in from Indiana in late November and announced herself with a dominating victory in the opening leg of the Staats series over a sloppy track, then had to settle for a second and a third-place finish in her next two starts. She returned to her winning ways in a conditioned event on December 23 and then captured the Staats finale at most recent asking.

Sent off the 8-5 second choice behind Rd Iou in that contest, Don’t Hurry Love sat a stalking trip to the stretch, then ignited when the question was asked and posted a two-length decision while stopping the clock in a solid 1:55 3/5. She is nicely drawn in the No. 2 post for this assignment and gets the top billing.

 Taking her on from the rail out are Bewareofthisaffair with James Kennedy; Frankly Scarlett for Steve Wiseman; the George Reider-trained Flashy Camilla; a second Johnson trainee in Pismo Beach; Little Bit Country with A. Pacheco; Posey Patch with Luke Plano; Red Star Ruffles for Robley Johnson; and Diva Las Vegas, with Tim Maier guiding from the outside slot.

The racing action continues Sunday with the opening leg of the Joe O’Brien Pacing series in the spotlight.