By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Chip
Lackey gave the Gene Vallandingham-trained Giant Sculpture a perfect drive in
last week’s Open Handicap Pace, working out a two-hole trip with the son of
Village Jolt and posting a four-length decision in a lifetime-best 1:52
clocking.
“I
don’t have many winner’s circle pictures on my wall, but this is one I’ll be
proud to put up there,” said the veteran Lackey. “Winning an Open Pace and
having the picture taken with Gene and Lou Pena was very special.”
Vallandingham
and Lackey go back to 1973, when Gene first came to California. “I went to work
for Gene when he first got out here, and then I went back with him to Maywood
Park the next year and he was the leading trainer.”
The
victory with Giant Sculpture was the second in five starts with Lackey in the
sulky. “The first time I drove him back in January he was 11-1 and put in a
real game, first-over effort and got there by a nose. He had also put in some
solid races coming into last week, giving me a good finish every time.”
According
to Chip, post position played a big role in his strategy last week. “We had
been drawing outside Doc’s Zippy every week and I didn’t want to battle with
him early, but this time we were inside and I sent my horse and was able to
work out a pocket trip.
“They
may have been going :55 to the half that night, but I knew I had a ton of
horse. I made sure to ease out a little early so we didn’t get trapped in, and
he gave me a super kick. It was very gratifying to go out there and win a race
like this for such great people.”
Sire Stakes,
Open Pace, Jim Grundy Series on tap
A
$10,000 California Sire Stakes for 3-year-olds that finds King Of The Crop and
Rikybrnthegaragdown renewing their rivalry; the opening leg of the Jim Grundy
Trotting Series featuring Donna Letsgo and an Open Pace are the main
attractions at Cal Expo Saturday night.
King
Of The Crop had to settle for second in the first stakes clash for the
sophomore pacing colts on January 18, but has posed for pictures following the
last two big-money events. The Little Steven homebred carries the banner of
Frank Nevarez with James Kennedy doing the driving and training.
The
bay performer left little doubt in the February 1 clash, drawing off by five
and a half-lengths that evening in a snappy 1:55 1/5 mile. Backed down to 1-5
for the most recent gathering of this group two weeks ago, he had to work much
harder as he opened up on the lead at the head of the lane and held by a head
over Rikybrnthegaragdown.
The
latter is by Living It Up out of the Sportsmaster mare Sports Bra and races for
Maryann Plano with son Luke reining and training. He made every pole a winning
in the first Sire Stakes of the season on January 18, was a distant third in
the next one and then fell just short of catching his arch-rival in that last
added-money affair two weeks ago. He returned last week to post a convincing
score in a conditioned event.
Last
week’s Open Pace saw Giant Sculpture pulling off the upset. He is a 6-year-old
son of Village Jolt who carries the banner of A Piece Of The Action LLC, is
conditioned by Gene Vallandingham and will once again be handled by Chip
Lackey.
He
was able to work out a perfect trip in the most recent clash at the head of the
class, sitting the pocket and then exploding in the stretch for a four-length
score in a lifetime-best 1:52 performance.
One
And Only had to settle for the exacta completion that evening while leaving
from the outside post as the 1-2 favorite for owners Richard Morita and David Yamada,
conditioner Lino Pacheco and pilot Luke Plano. He rattled off five straight
victories at this top rung between December 21 and January 21, including a
score from the demanding No. 10 post
