By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
A solid group of pacing
fillies and mares will do battle in Friday night’s $8,300 Alan Kirschenbaum
Final, with last week’s Prep victress Cenalta Diamond and Blue Note heading the
cast.
Cenalta Diamond is a
5-year-old daughter of Allamerican Merlin who carries the banner of Gordon,
Helen and Myrna Empey with Gordon Empey the conditioner and Mooney Svendsen in
his usual place in the sulky. Those same connections will also be represented
by Cenalta Artistry in the main event and she will have the services of Rene
Goulet.
Cenalta Diamond was
dispatched at 7-1 in last weekend’s Kirschenbaum Prep, was able to work out a
ground-saving tracking trip for Svendsen and ignited when room developed late
in the drive to prevail by two lengths in a lifetime best 1:53 2/5 clocking.
Blue Note is going in
razor-sharp form at the moment and came rolling late to get the place spot in
that affair for owner/trainer Rick Cisco and pilot Luke Plano. The 13-year-old
daughter of Little Steven accounted for two of her three previous outings while
putting her versatility on display.
Shesamysterytome was the 9-5
favorite in the Prep and carved out all the fractions before tiring to fourth
that evening. She is owned by Ashlee Sluggett and Trevor Williams, is
reined-and-trained by Ryan Grundy and was a 1:54 2/5 victress here earlier the
meeting.
Rounding out the field are
Smash, who will have the services of William Hernandez; La Madawna De Rosa with
Gerry Longo; Back Stock, to be guided by Steve Wiseman; and Getter Queen Flush
with Nick Roland at the controls.
***
There is a carryover of
$5,281 in Friday’s 50-cent Pick 5, which covers the first five races and comes
with a reduced 16 percent takeout rate. There will be a $20,000-guaranteed
gross pool.
Neumeister, Seibel
Remember Kirschenbaum
Friday’s Alan Kirschenbaum Pace is named for the longtime owner and breeder and past president of the California Harness Horsemen’s Association, who died in October of 2012 at the age of 51.
In the past, he had even waived his stallion fees to help the California horsemen breed their mares to help the horse population survive in the Golden State. Alan was also a huge supporter of the California Sire Stakes and amateur races.
“Alan was one of my favorite people,” said David Neumeister.
“Everybody liked him. His impact on harness racing in California is in evidence
every night in the Cal Expo racing program, as offspring of his sires and dams,
most of which he bred and raced himself, are still racing today.
“On the trot, sons and daughters of British Sterling are
competitive performers. The same is true on the pace, as offspring of
Little Steven, Alan's good stakes horse and sire, are often seen battling it
out on the Sacramento track.
“In addition to being a prolific breeder and amateur
driver, Alan was a huge political force in California harness racing. He
ran the breeder's association for years. He also served on the CHHA board of
directors for as long as I knew him.
”In fact, he was president of the horsemen's association until just a few weeks before his ever so untimely death. Of course, this is all in addition to his incredible success as a television writer and producer. “He is sorely missed by the entire harness racing community.”
Cal Expo announcer Gary Seibel first met Alan Kirschenbaum in the early 80s at Pompano Park in Florida. “I was track announcer and publicity director and Alan was working for trainer George Berkner,” Seibel said.
“He’d come into the publicity office to use one of the desks that had a typewriter – yes a typewriter! – to work on his projects, which at the time I think included writing for Mad Magazine.
“I liked him from the start. He was a great guy with a great sense of humor, and we had a lot in common since we were both native New Yorkers who loved harness racing..
“From time to time, we would get into a long conversation about anything and everything, and he would say to me, ‘this (Hollywood) is my job, harness racing is my passion.’ That was so evident in what did in and for the sport, both nationally and in California.
“His contributions to the sport he loved are with us today in so many ways. I think of him every night when I open the Cal Expo program because his name appears in the program every racing night through the horses he has raced, bred and owned in the Golden State.”
Gary recalled a time when he lived in Los Angeles and Alan invited him to a taping of his CBS sitcom “Yes Dear”.
“My wife and I were sitting in the front row of the audience, and before the taping began, Alan came out and introduced himself to the crowd and told everyone what to expect during the live taping of the show.
“When he saw us, he paused, came over and gave us both a big hug. It really touched us both. After the taping, he brought us down to the stage, where we met the cast and production crew and got to hang out for a while. He was a great friend and a special person.”
