WAINSCOTT AND TONY ARE LEADING THE PARADE
By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal
Expo Harness
Outrider Billy Don Wainscott and his trusted steed Tony show
the way in the post parades here each night, making sure things go in orderly
fashion and helping out when needed by a driver.
Wainscott, a former jockey, has been the outrider here for
some 11 years, while quarter horse Tony has been his partner for the last five.
“I actually broke Tony as a yearling and the plan was for him to be in match
races, but they decided against it and I ended up taking him,” Billy Don
explained.
Wainscott, who retired from riding in 1996, is best know for
piloting the storied mule Black Ruby. “I was aboard for three of her wins, and
all of them turned out to be track records,” he related.
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Cal Expo outrider Billy Don
Wainscott is flanked by Courtney Dagorret and Tony
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As for Tony, while his main job is as the outrider’s pony,
he still gets a chance to do a little racing. For the last several years, he
has traveled up to the Red Bluff Roundup Club Rodeo to compete in what is known
as the Cowgirl Races. “They race 300 yards and his owner, Courtney Dagorret,
has ridden him to three wins up there, including last weekend,” Wainscott
noted.
When the meeting concludes here next month, Billy Don and
Tony will hit the fair circuit while leading the parades to post for the
thoroughbreds, quarter horses and mules. “It’s different than working with the
trotters and pacers, and they all have their good points and bad.”
PACING COLTS CLASH
IN SIRE STAKES
A $10,000 California Sire Stakes for the 3-year-old pacing
colts will be featured at the Watch and Wager LLC meet at Cal Expo Saturday
night, with Lebo Jones and Bit Player getting plenty of support.
A 14-race program is on tap, with the Sire Stakes going as
the opener. The featured Trot is a $4,500 Open 2 event that brings together K D
Amazin Spirit, Stars and Glides, Inside Broadway, Franks Best and D D’s Tiger.
Getting back to the stakes, Lebo Jones is a homebred son of
Wicked Island and the Incredible Finale mare Credible Preciosa who races for
Frank Nevarez, is conditioned by Gordie Graham and will once again have Scott
Cisco at the controls.
The dark-hued pacer earned both his maiden diploma and a
trophy when looped his rivals to capture the most recent added-money event for
this group two weeks ago. He won going away by a length and a quarter that
evening, then came back last weekend to finish third in an Open 3 event behind
A Real Miracle and the sharp filly Strings.
Bit Player is a multiple stakes victor and has to be given
plenty of respect. A Desomer Stables homered, he is by Moxie out of the Leading
Edge mare Linear and is conditioned by Vickie Desomer with Steve Wiseman at the
helm.
The dark-hued gelding recorded his most recent added-money
decision on March 30. He raced up close and personal in that affair, opened up
on his rivals turning for home and came to the wire with two and a half-lengths
to spare while equaling his lifetime standard with the 1:56 3/5 clocking.
Completing the field are Daring Do with Steve Desomer
guiding; Me Tarzan, Tim Maier; Winonefordoug for Richard Bertrand; Hi Ho
Disguise with Luke Plano doing the honors; and Kablooie, who leaves from the
outside post with Bruce Clarke in the sulky.
There are three wagers offered here at Cal Expo with a
reduced 16 percent takeout rate and a carryover provision. 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 with a $20,000-guaranteed pool on Fridays and a
$25,000-guaranteed pool on Saturdays; and the 10-cent High 5 on the finale.
