By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Following start No. 244 in
Friday night’s fourth race, Nutmegs Desire will begin a new career as a
broodmare, but not before Cal Expo gives her a special sendoff.
The 11-year-old daughter of
Real Desire comes into Friday’s final assignment with 55 wins, 42 seconds and
30 thirds, $241,614 in her bank account and a 1:53 1/5 career standard that was
set six years ago.
Nutmegs Desire goes about her
business for Don and Barbara Arnstine, Steve Chambers and Tyler Wiseman with
Kathie Plested conditioning and Steve Wiseman back at the controls.
In last week’s tour, the
hard-knocking pacer sat the pocket early for Wiseman, responded when the
question was asked in the stretch and proved clearly best for her fifth
snapshot from 11 starts on the season.
Nutmegs Desire is scheduled
to be make her special appearance on Friday following the running of the second
race and everyone is invited to come down and join in the ceremony.
“We like the idea of bringing
Nutmeg down to the Winner's Circle before her race,” said co-owner Chambers.
“Mostly we’re doing it this way because after she races, she's pretty full of
herself and will not be very interested in standing still for a picture with a
group.
“We intend to make the
ceremony short and sweet, so Nutmeg can get back to the paddock and get dressed
for her final race.”
Nutmegs Desire will be
presented with a new blanket and her owners will also be giving a check to the
California Standardbred Rescue Fund representing last week’s earnings from her
victory.
Said Barbara Arnstine, “As
much as we love and appreciate Nutmeg, this isn’t just about her. It’s a small
chance to educate the public about harness horses – their sociability, their
love for their ‘jobs’ and their longevity, which leads to another career in
many cases.”
Plans call for Nutmegs Desire
to join Ricky Schneider’s broodmare band in Alberta following Friday night’s
curtain call and she will be bred to Vertical Horizon.
An 11-race card is on tap
Friday evening under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post set for
6:10 p.m.
Low takeout wagers
offer great value
There are two wagers offered
here each night that come with a reduced 16 percent takeout rate – the 50-cent
Pick 5 on the first five races of the evening and the 20-cent Pick 4.
The Pick 4 comes with a
$30,000-guaratnteed gross pool on Fridays and a $40,000 guarantee on Saturdays.
To give you some idea of how
sweet the reduced takeout can be, last Saturday night’s 50-cent Pick 5 returned
$2,381 for each winning ticket. Using the old takeout, the payoff would have
been $2,126, a difference of $255 for each ducket.
