By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo
Harness
Owner/trainer Bette Jean Calice admits that the
10-year-old trotter Sharpshootennorris is as much a pet as a member of her
stable, which raises the question of how many pets can you buy for $8,000 and
three years later they’ve put over $85,000 in the bank?
That’s the scenario with Sharpshootennorris, who
looks to add to his $422,000 in overall earnings when he suits up in Friday
night’s headliner for Bette Jean and regular pilot Steve Wiseman.
“He originally raced for my niece and was an Open
trotter back then,” Calice said. “He lost a step and ended up in claimers and
was taken by someone for $8,000. He raced for them for awhile, and then when
they dropped him back in for $8,000, I claimed him.”
Sharpshootennorris banked $40,000 that first year
for Calice and turned in a 1:55 3/5 mile at Pompano, adding another $45,000 to
that total over the last two seasons. He currently makes up the entire barn for
Calice, who considers herself to be semi-retired at this point.
“He’s very special,” she noted. “He hears me coming
even before I get around the side of the barn. When we’re jogging, he can still
act a little like a baby and jump up and down when something unusual happens,
but when it comes time to race he’s all business out there.”
The 10-year-old trotter dead-heated for a
conditioned victory on November 22 and has spent his last three starts chasing
home Bob Johnson’s dynamic duo of Franks Best and Inside Broadway in the
Invitational ranks. He figures to appreciate the class relief for Friday’s
assignment and looms large with Wiseman guiding.
Bette Jean explained that it’s been some 30 years
since she raced here in Sacramento, spending the majority of her time in
Florida and Indiana during the interim. “The timing seemed right, and I’m
looking to spend the summer in Oregon when this meet is over. I’m having a
great time.” Apparently, so is Sharpshootennorris.
Trotting main event lures contentious cast
Sharpshootennorris,
who has been knocking heads with the likes of Franks Best and Inside Broadway
of late; and Hellogottagobuybye, fresh from a smart victory, are among the
major players in Friday night’s trotting headliner.
A
13- race card is on tap, with the feature set as the fourth on the evening and
first post is 5:55 p.m. The action continues Saturday night with two divisions
of the second leg of the Bob Gordon Series and an Invitational Pace as the
marquee events.
Getting
back to Friday’s Trot, Sharpshootennorris has made his last three appearances
at the Invite level, chasing home powerhouse stablemates Franks Best and Inside
Broadway in those ventures. He figures to be much more at home with Friday’s
crew.
A
10-year-old Canadian-bred son of Earl, he is owned and trained by Bette Jean
Calice with Steve Wiseman in his usual position in the sulky. He comes into
this assignment with $422,000 in his account and a 1:54 mark that was
established three years ago. Since dead-heating with Axle in a conditioned
contest on November 22, he has been in very tough while coming away with a
third and two fourth-place finishes.
Hellogottagobuhbye looked good getting the job done
last week in his second start at the meet and looms large right back. Owned by
Daniel Maier and conditioned by father Tim, Tyler Smith will handle the lines
after using a second-over trip to victory. The son of Dream Vacation sports a
1:54 2/5 mark from last season at Pocono Downs.
Silverlode
figures to be a solid factor for Team Desomer. The 4-year-old daughter of British
Sterling is a Sire Stakes victress and made every pole a winning one to capture
the Joe Lighthill Series finale on November 22. Veteran Steve Desomer is in the
sulky.
