By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
After playing a supporting
role in the first three stakes dances at Cal Expo for the sophomore pacing
fillies, including breaks in the first pair, Glad to Meet Ya was the star of
last Saturday night’s get-together with a six and a half-length romp with Luke
Plano.
Sent off the 4-1 second
choice behind the 1-5 Goturnumber, who had crushed her rivals in the previous two
Sire Stakes, Glad to Meet Ya is a Disco Devil homebred who goes about her
business Billie Schwartz and co-owner/trainer Junior Wilkinson.
This group will get another
chance to settle the score in a couple of weeks, with the four big clashes
having seen three different winners, with Brigitte Bordeaux having accounted
for the first one back on March 10.
Last Saturday night was also
a big one for owners Richard Morita and David Yamada and trainer Lino Pacheco
as they made three trips to the winner’s circle.
They started off the hat
trick with Bettor’s Promise in the co-featured Open II Pace to kick off the
program, then added victories with another Bettor’s Delight offspring in Bettor
Lady in the seventh stanza and also had Lincoln posing for snapshots following
the evening’s penultimate 10th affair.
Speaking of landing in the
charmed enclosure, the trotter Manley Stanley made it five wins from the last
six appearances for owner/trainer Lisa Capioso and pilot Rene Goulet with a
facile tally.
Manley Stanley, who has been
known to accompany Lisa to her day job as teacher, was on his best behavior for
this go-around after making a rare early miscue in his previous start and
missing by a nose.
Trio of Opens get the
marquee treatment
Three Open races are featured
on Saturday night’s program at Cal Expo with Pridecrest, I’m An Athlete and
Delightfully Wild heading the Open Trot, Open Pace and Distaff Open,
respectively.
There will be 10 races
decided under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post set for 6:40 p.m.
Pridecrest is a 6-year-old
son of Angus Hall who races for Heather Matthews with Luke Plano reining and
training. He has won seven of his eight starts at this meet, with four of them
coming from the demanding No. 10 post position.
Pridecrest established a new
track record in his first start at the meet on November 3, going coast-to-coast
while posting a 1:53 2/5 clocking. He followed that with five more straight
scores, the last four from the 10 slot.
The Matthews colorbearer tasted
defeat for the first time here on March 3, when he was beaten a neck by Talkin
Tootsie, then got his revenge at most recent asking as he waltzed home by
almost six lengths while making every pole a winning one from the outside slot
in a field of five. He has the 10 post this weekend.
I’m An Athlete, who has
rattled off back-to-back victories at the head of the class, including a
life-time best 1:51 mile at most recent asking, looks to keep the momentum
going in the Open Pace.
An 8-year-old son of Art
Major out of the Cam’s Card Shark mare Female Champs, I’m An Athlete carries
the banner of Ronald Rettig-Zucchi with Jessie Pacheco doing the training and
James Kennedy in his usual spot in the sulky.
The hard-hitting veteran has
posed for pictures following five of his 10 starts on the year after capturing
7 of his 30 trips to the post last season. He will do his work from the outside
post in the field of seven.
