Bob Staats
Pacing series, Don Lovier Memorial set
By Mark Ratzky, publicity
– Cal Expo Harness
Two
divisions of the first leg of the Bob Staats Pacing series and the Don Lovier
Memorial Pace featuring Haggin Oaks and That’s Mara have center stage at Cal
Expo Friday evening.
A
13-card is on tap as the Watch and Wager LLC meet will now find the trotters
and pacers in action on Friday and Saturday nights. First post has been set at
6:10 for Friday’s program.
Gene
Vallandingham figures to have a strong say in the opening leg of the Staats as
his barn will have three representatives in each division, including last
week’s winners After Alimony and R Journey Together, both of whom he will
guide.
That’s Mara also gives Gene a major look in the
co-featured Lovier Memorial as she is coming off a game decision two weeks ago
and should be well supported in the event. She will be taking on the likes of
the hard-hitting Haggin Oaks, Strings, Scooter Babe and No Mo Parking. That
event carries a $4,500 purse and goes as the third on the card, while the Staats
divisions are scheduled as the seventh and twelfth contests.
After
Alimony deserves plenty of respect as the Staats series gets underway after
turning in a pair of big races since arriving from the East Coast. Owned by A
Piece of the Action LLC and reined and trained by Vallandingham, she finished
nicely for second in her local debut and then proved a punctual 3-5 favorite in
last week’s tour in a 1:57 flat performance.
R
Journey Together is a 3-year-old daughter of Western Ideal who races for the
same connections. Like her stablemate, she was a runner-up in her local debut
after coming in from Pocono Downs and followed with a trip to the winner’s
circle last week as the odds-on choice.
That’s
Mara looks to make it two straight in the Lovier and could be part of a big
night for A Piece of the Action LLC and Vallandingham. The 4-year-old Lis Mara
offspring took the measure of an optional claiming field on opening night, was
hard used early and paid the price at second asking here and then rebounded to
hold safe by a neck with this group last time.
