HI FIDELITY HAS SIGHTS ON HAT TRICK
By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo
Harness
Hi
Fidelity, who has posed back-to-back impressive victories, gets the top billing
in Friday night’s $3,400 pacing feature at Cal Expo, which is designed for
fillies and mares under starter allowance conditions. First post is 7:10 p.m.
A
5-year-old daughter of Hi Ho Silverheel’s from the No Nukes mare Sharps N
Flats, Hi Fidelity is owned and trained by Rick Cisco and will do her work from
the cozy rail slot. She established her 1:54 career standard winning earlier in
the year and is back on the beam this spring.
The
bay miss was 5-1 when she sat a perfect tracking trip with Scott Cisco on May 4
and then flew by the leader at the head of the stretch en route to a four and
half-length romp. She made every pole a winning one with Bruce Clarke at the
helm last weekend and was a comfortable length and three-quarters victress
while returning $15 to her backers.
Frankly
Scarlett completed the exacta that evening and will be back in the cast for
owner Robert Bacon and driver/trainer Steve Wiseman. The 9-year-old daughter of
Little Steven is looking to add to a $128,000 bankroll and sports a 1:54 3/5
mark that was established here this season.
The
Wiseman protégé recorded her most recent decision on March 29, going coast-to
coast and being driven out to the line. She has had to settle for minor awards
in the interim, including last week’s runner-up finish where she was shuffled
by the half and then finished with good interest.
Incredible
Gambler is attempting to make amends after checking in fifth as the 1-2 choice
behind the top pair. Clint Lugar and Antonio Olivas own the 7-year-old while
Luke Plano reins and trains. She has posed for pictures six times from 18
appearances and her 1:54 standard came over this layout last year.
Completing
the cast are Quality Goods, to be guided by Scott Cisco; Sea Bug with Gene
Vallandingham; and Mousseline Hanover, who leaves from the outside with Chip
Lackey in the sulky. A 10-race card is on tap with the headliner set as the
sixth on the evening.
*********
There
will be no racing here on Friday, May 24, with closing night of the Watch and
Wager LLC meet set for Saturday, May 25.
VALLANDINGHAM, DOC’S ZIPPY GO DOWN THE ROAD
After
knocking on the door in his previous four starts, Doc’s Zippy got some class
relief and the cozy rail post for last week’s assignment and made every pole a
winning one for owner Toman Enterprises, trainer George Anthrop and regular
pilot Gene Vallandingham.
Never
challenged as the 8-5 second choice, Doc’s Zippy reported to the wire with two
lengths to spare in a snappy 1:53 3/5 tour. The son of Sam’s Eclipse, who
sports a 1:52 1/5 mark from last year at Colonial Downs, was earning his
overdue first snapshot on the season.
“His
last few races have been awfully solid, and he’s paced in under 1:54 each
time,” Vallandingham noted. “He got in with an easier group for that last one
and it wasn’t a surprise nobody came after him up front, because they might have
been able to win it for somebody else, but they were going to pay the price.”
For
Vallandigham, the coast-to-coaster with Doc’s Zippy was one of three victories
on the evening, the other pair coming with his own trainees Asgoodasioncewas
and Village Benjamin. For those keeping track, he comes into this week with
2,953 victories and over $13 million in earnings and Gene still has that
competitive fire burning at age 72.
He
was asked about his plans for the break that follows when the meet ends on May
25. “I’ll turn the horses out and then bring them back around mid-August to get
ready for the meet opening again in October,” Vallandingham related. “As far as
what I’ll be doing during that time, it’s all spur of the moment, but I do plan
a trip down to Los Angeles for sure.”
