By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Duet
will be looking for the second trophy of her career when she suits up in Friday
night’s featured Sire Stakes for owner/trainer Rick Cisco and pilot Tim Maier.
The
daughter of Disco Devil posed for pictures following the February 14
added-money gathering for this division, which features a very contentious
group of 3-year-old pacing distaffers.
“I
got this filly last summer and broke her,” Cisco related when asked about the
bay miss. “She needed some time, so I was patient and waited with her. Luke
Plano qualified her and told me she was ready for stakes company, so that’s
where we went.
“He
had a filly of his own in there, and when I asked who I should drive, he
suggested I get Tim. He’s done a great job with her and he’s also been very
helpful as far as giving me suggestions after the races.”
Since
her February stakes tally, Duet was fourth and fifth with her peers and then
turned in a solid effort in the most recent gathering for this group two weeks
ago. She finished well that evening to complete the exacta behind J’s
Littlerockstar and should be sitting on a good outing Friday.
“After
the race following her stake win where they went to the three-quarters in 1:25
and change, I had her scoped and she had a sinus infection,” Rick noted. “It
took her awhile to truly recover from that and it hurt her in the next two
stakes races..
“As
far as this week goes, James Kennedy’s filly has won the last two stakes, but I
still think this is a pretty wide-open field as all of these have the ability
to win on an given night. My filly is still green and learning and after this
meet is finished I’m going to give her all the time she needs.”
Sophomore Sire
Stakes feature contentious casts
Two
$10,000 California Sire Stakes are the focus of attention at Cal Expo Friday
night, with J’s Littlerockstar eyeing her third straight big money score in the
distaff pacing event while Placer and Ahh Panama are among the major players in
the Trotting contest.
J’s
Littlerockstar is a daughter of Little Steven and the Pacific Fella mare Sweet
Sakra Sue who has moved to the head of the sophomore pacing filly division over
the last month. James Kennedy owns, trains, drives and bred the distaffer.
In
the March 14 stakes clash, the Kennedy performer was unhurried early, came
first over at the half and ignited when it counted to be up by a length. In the
most recent gathering for this division two weeks ago, J’s Littlerockstar raced
up close and personal and got the job done by a length and a quarter as the 8-5
favorite.
Duet
was the runner-up in that affair for owner/trainer Rick Cisco and pilot Tim
Maier. The Disco Devil offspring was an impressive winner of the February 14
stakes in a 1:57 2/5 performance and turned in a solid effort in that last
get-together for this group two weeks ago.
De
Valeria was the leader of the division earlier in the meet and helps make
things very interesting with her top effort with Steve Wiseman, while Brewski
rounds out the compact field with Chip Lackey at the controls.
The last three Sire Stakes for the trotting set have
gone to three different performers. Ahh Panama was the most recent to be taking
pictures two weeks ago, as she made every pole a winning one at 8-1 that
evening for owners Henry Wieseneck, Marty Garey and Bob Johnson, who also
conditions the daughter of Panama Hanover.
Placer
has three stakes trophies on the mantle for Team Desomer, but lost his chance
in the most recent get-together when he made a break before the half. Snuff N
Beer got the job done in the February 28 stakes for owner/breeder Mary Harris
and trainer Kennedy Lindsey and must be respected.
