By Mark Ratzky, publicity –
Cal Expo Harness
Pridecrest, who has rattled
off five straight dominating victories at the top rung since arriving from the
Midwest, looks to extend that streak Saturday night in the $6,600 Open Trot at
Cal Expo.
An 11-race card is on tap
under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post set for 6:10 p.m. The main
event is scheduled as the third contest of the evening.
Pridecrest put his name in
the record books here on November 11 when he toured the Sacramento oval in
coast-to-coast fashion in 1:53 2/5 to establish a new track record.
For the fourth straight time,
Pridecrest will be asked to start from the assigned No. 10 post position this
weekend with trainer Luke Plano at the controls behind the Mark Hinshaw
colorbearer.
The 6-year-old son of Angus
Hall has been ultra impressive in his five scores here, the most recent coming
in the January 13 Open. As mentioned earlier, the last three have been recorded
from this demanding 10 post, including his November 25 decision that came after
he made a break before the start.
The dark-hued sidewheeler
registered one of those victories on the front end, three have come from a
stalking position and his most recent saw him making a power brush to the lead
at the half that led to a three and three-quarters lengths victory as the 1-5
favorite.
Looking for an upset this
weekend are Silverlode, Silverhill Volo, Talkin Tootsie, Wisom Kelly, Windsun
Galaxie and The Evictor.
Clements eyes special victory
in Grundy Trot
Robin Clements will send out
Franky Provolone in next Friday night’s Jim Grundy Final, and would love to win
not only for her beloved trotter but because of the person for whom this race
is named.
“I was fortunate to know Jim
when he and his wife Debbie had a big stable and he was at the top of his
game,” Robin related. “Jim was a heck of a horseman, especially with the young
horses, and he was always dominant in the stakes races.
“He could be kind of a gruff
guy at times, but he had a big heart for the animals, especially for the dogs.”
Clements recalled a specific
incident with the mare Taxi Dancer that involved Grundy. “When I first got Taxi
Dancer, I was out training her and as I was coming back, I passed Jim who was
standing by the rail.
“He yelled to me to ‘drop
that mare’s head’, meaning to lower her overcheck. I told him this is Taxi
Dancer and she can pull, but he yelled back that he knew who she was and I
should drop the head!
“I went back to the barn and
lowered her overcheck, and she won her next start and even set a new lifetime
mark. After that race I saw Jim and he said he could see that mare wanted her
head between her knees and started to laugh.”
By the way, Taxi Dancer won
36 races for Robin with that “low head”.
