STREAKING K D AMAZIN SPIRITS HEADS TROT
By
Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
K D Amazin Spirit,
who has rattled off four straight victories for Keith Willey and Scott Cisco;
and I Love New York, a dangerous invader from the Bruce Clarke barn, get the
marquee treatment in Friday night’s $6,000 Open Handicap Trot at Cal Expo.
A 15-race card is on
tap, with the headliner going as the third on the evening. First post is set
for 5:40 Pacific Time and the action continues Saturday night with another
15-race program under the Watch and Wager LLC banner.
K D Amazin Spirit is
going in peak form at the moment for owner/trainer/breeder Willey and pilot
Cisco, proving unbeatable between January 6 and his most recent appearance two
weeks ago. The 7-year-old son of Thadrow sports a lifetime mark of 1:56 3/5
that was established in his February 8 victory.
The Willey
representative set that career standard in his second straight coast-to-coast
score, putting his versatility on display in the prior two wins by playing the
role of stalker to perfection. No matter how things shake out early in this
affair, Cisco will certainly have his share of options with this razor-sharp
gelding.
The main threat will
likely come I Love New York, who comes in from Tioga Downs and should be right
at home under these conditions; and the Tim Brown-trained Stars and Glides, who
is already proven over this layout.
These two trotters
tuned up for this assignment in a qualifier last Saturday and finished one-two
in an impressive 1:57 3/5, finishing eight lengths in front of Shelby County,
who will also suit up in this affair. Trainer Clarke will guide I Love New
York, Meagan Beauchamp handles Stars and Glides and Rocky Stidham will be
behind his trainee Shelby County.
Rounding out the
cast is Franky Provolone, who has certainly gone his share of big miles here
and has Tim Maier at the controls; and Earls Dreamofglory, who does his work
from the cozy rail slot with Dave Siegel in the sulky.
A
reminder that a trio of wagers is offered here each night with a reduced 16
percent takeout rate and a 100 percent carryover provision in the event of no
winning tickets. They are the 50-cent Pick 5 that begins on the third race; the
$1 Pick 4 on the penultimate four races on the evening which features a
$20,000-guarateed pool on Friday and a $25,000 guarantee on Saturday; and the
10-cent Super 5 on the nightcap.
BIT PLAYER ELEVATED
TO STARRING ROLE
After a
series of eventful trips that included an equipment malfunction, a break in
close quarters and other assorted traffic issues, Bit Player had clear sailing
on the lead last weekend and came away with a stakes trophy for Steve and
Vickie Desomer and driver Steve Wiseman.
The
dark-hued 3-year-old pacer is by Moxie out of the Leading Edge mare Linear and
has now posed for pictures following four of his 14 career attempts. He was
avenging a loss to stablemate Daring Do in the previous big-money gathering
over a sloppy track in late December in the process.
“Linear
had a 1:53 1/5 mark and was a winner of over $188,000,” Vickie Desomer related.
“She was one of four homebreds we sold to the late Dr. Gary Budahn and his wife
Debbie very early in her career. When she retired, Dr. Budahn offered her to us
in return for raising her first foal, who turned out to be Great Integrity. He
took a 1:52 4/5 mark and earned $133,000 for the Budahns.”
Linear
also went on to produce a productive performer in Code Blue and has most
recently been represented by Bit Player, who appears to have a very nice future
under the Desomer Stables banner. As for Linear, she is currently part of a
very worthy cause.
“She
resides at Harmony Have in Cottonwood and earns her keep as a therapy horse for
disabled children,” Vickie reported. And the beat goes on.
