By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
An Open Trot that brings out
track record-holder Pridecrest and an Open Pace featuring Jazzmanian Devil,
Eastender and I’m An Athlete share the spotlight on a special Tuesday night
card at Cal Expo.
First post for the 14-race
program is 5 p.m. with the Open Trot going as the second event and the
co-featured Open Pace immediately following as the third contest of the
evening.
The harness action will
continue this week with Friday and Saturday cards.
Pridecrest is a 5-year-old
son of Angus Hall from the Wesgate Crown mare Spilled Milk who competes for
Mark Hinshaw with Luke Plano doing the driving and training. He has accounted
for all three of his outings at this meet since arriving from the Midwest,
including a track-record performance on November 3.
In that event, he went right
to the front for Plano waltzed home with nearly 10 lengths on his nearest rival
while stopping the timer in the new course standard of 1:53 2/5. He came from
off the pace to romp eight nights later, then overcame the assigned No. 10 post
and an early miscue to get the job down at most recent asking with some late
heroics
as the 1-5 choice.
He will once again be asked
to do his work from the assigned No. 10 spot on Tuesday while facing Talkin
Tootsie, Itzaziam, Silverhill Volo, Silverlode and Dougs Hobby Horse.
Jazzmanian Devil is a
6-year-old who carries the banner of William Condon with Kathie Plested
conditioning and Mooney Svendsen in his usual position in the sulky. He has
accounted for two of the last three Open Paces at this session and was a 1:52
1/5 victor over this layout earlier in the year.
Eastender narrowly missed to
Jazzmanian Devil in the December 1 clash at the head of the class and looms
large for owners Maryann Plano and Nikki Hudson and driver/trainer Luke Plano,
while I’m An Athlete is a hard-knocking Ronald Rettig-Zucchi colorbearer from
the Jesse Pacheco barn who helps make things very interesting with James
Kennedy at the controls.
***
There are two wagers that are
offered here each night that come with a reduced 16 percent takeout rate. They
are the 50-cent Pick 5, which is decided on the first five races on the
evening; and the 20-cent Pick 4, on the penultimate four races. The Pick 4
comes with a guaranteed gross pool that has been raised to $30,000.
Silverlode earns money
the old fashioned way
Silverlode, who will
celebrate her 9th birthday next week, added another victory to her
resume last weekend and has now banked just shy of $160,000 for owner/breeders
Steve and Vickie Desomer.
A daughter of British
Sterling out of the outstanding racemare and producer Charlotte’s Web,
Silverlode has been a mainstay on this circuit for quite some time and
established her lifetime standard of 1:55 1/5 over this track last season.
In last week’s appearance
with Mooney Svendsen handling the lines, the bay miss dropped into a stalking
spot early from her outside slot, made a powerful move to the lead past the
half and went on to a seven and a half-length romp while making even-money look
like an early Xmas gift.
“We were a little hasty
getting her ready to race at this meet,” Vickie said. “That may explain whey
her early efforts weren’t that good.
“She is honest and willing
and has remained relatively sound throughout her career. She’s lovely to work
with and has had the added benefit of Telma Hernandez and Emilio Cisneros as
her caretaker.”
