By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
With her 2:57 2/5 final
clocking in winning last weekend’s mile and one-half Joe Lighthill Trot,
Silverlode has established a new North American record for the distance on a
mile track.
The 10-year-old
California-bred British Sterling mare, who is owned by Medinah Racing and
Kathie Plested, is trained by Plested and was handled by Steve Wiseman,
captured the Lighthill by three and one-quarter lengths in a sensational
performance.
Silverlode, who has a slew of
Sire Stakes trophies on her mantle, pushed her career bank account to $237,000
with the victory and has a 1:54 3/5 mark for a mile that was established last
year over the Running Aces oval.
For the record, the previous
standard for a mile and a half victory on a mile layout of 2:57 3/5 was jointly
held by three trotters – Meadow Road (1985), Victors Pursuit (2006) Rev It Up
(2012).
In addition to the
record-breaking score by Silverlode, the Plested shedrow also sent out the
winner of the Open Pace last Saturday night as King Of The Crop flew home to
get the nod over Pancetta in a 1:52 4/5 performance.
Another Cal-bred, King Of The
Crop carries the banner of Don and Barbara Arnstine, Steve Chambers and Plested
and was also excellently handled by Wiseman. It was the third tally at the head
of the class from the last five trips to the post for this 8-year-old son of
Little Steven.
Speaking of Little Steven
offspring, a tip of the cap to Rick Cisco’s 14-year-old pacing mare Blue Note,
who has now won three of her last seven starts with Nate Sobey, James Kennedy
and most recently Luke Plano doing the honors while pushing her earnings over
the $150,000 plateau.
Stablemates Pancetta, Bettor
Lady in spotlight
Stablemates Pancetta,
Bettor Lady in spotlight
A pair of Open Paces head the
action Friday night at Cal Expo, and barnmates Bettor Lady and Pancetta loom
large in their respective events for owners Richard Morita and David Yamada and
trainer Lino Pacheco.
A 12-race card is on tap
under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post at 6:10 p.m. and there
will also be trio of California Sire Stakes for the 4-year-olds going as
non-betting events prior to the regular program.
Bettor Lady is coming off
back-to-back 6-1 upset scores, the most recent coming in last week’s Filly and
Mare Open. In that contest, James Kennedy was able to work out a pocket trip
with the daughter of Bettor’s Delight, she responded when the question was
asked and was up by a nose.
Meanwhile, Pancetta just
missed to favored King Of The Crop in last week’s Open Pace and will not have
that rival to deal with this time around. The 10-year-old son of No Pan
Intended will once again have Dean Magee doing the honors.
Bettor In The Bank rattled
off four straight wins between January 25 and February 15, including two Open
Pace scores, before checking in a close third in the most recent clash at the
head of the class and deserves plenty of respect.
The long-fused 9-year-old
goes about his business for Debra McCarthy with Gordie Graham training and
James Kennedy in the sulky. He is looking to add to a $221,000 bank account
with 1:51 3/5 standard that was established over this layout.
Icy Blue Scooter has gone
some outstanding miles at this meet while racing at the highest level and helps
make things very interesting from the outside post for driver/trainer Nate
Sobey, who co-owns the son of Blue Burner with Diane Bertrand and Robert
Gilhespy.
