By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Bettor in the Bank became the
first three-winner at the meet when the 9-year-old pacer made short work of his
conditioned rivals last week with James Kennedy at the controls.
Despite leaving from the
outside post in the field of nine, Bettor in the Bank got the job done once
again by saving his best for last, looping the leaders into the lane to win
going away by four and a quarter lengths.
A son of Better Tuwin who is
owned by Debra McCarthy and conditioned by Gordie Graham, Bettor in the Bank
was winning for the 46th time from 185 starts and pushed his career
bank account to $236,000 in the process. He established his 1:51 3/5 standard
here last season.
“He’s just too classy for the
horses he’s been racing against here,” said Kennedy of the McCarthy colorbearer.
“He definitely likes to come at the end, so even though he had the outside post
last time, I was worried about it. At some point he’ll come out and make his
move.”
Bettor in the Bank will
attempt to keep the streak going in Friday evening’s fourth race, leaving from
the much more advantageous No. 3 post in the field of seven.
The victory with Bettor in
the Bank last Friday was one of four tallies on the card for Kennedy, who is
looking to repeat as the leading driver at this meeting. His other scores came
with Joltin Joe, Relentless Dancer and Marilyn.
As far as repeating as
leading pilot at this stand, James acknowledges this is one of the strongest
driving colonies in recent memory. “I don’t know if I can repeat this year, but
some people wait their whole lives to get a title and I was very proud to do it
at the last meeting.”
Trot, Distaff Pace head the
marquee
Trot, Distaff Pace head
the Friday night marquee
An Open II Filly and Mare
Pace featuring Dancingonthesand and an Open II Trot that brings out Its a Horse
and invading Scramble Camp are the main attractions on Friday night’s program
at Cal Expo.
There will be 12 races
presented under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post set for 6:10
p.m.
Dancinginthesand will be gunning
for her third straight victory in the Distaff Pace while being asked to leave
from the outside slot in the field of 10. Alan Cooper owns, Kathie Plested
trains and Mooney Svendsen will be in the sulky.
After a romping score here on
November 9, Dancinginthesand did her work from the No. 9 slot in last weekend’s
clash at this level and came from double digits off the pace to post a length
and a half score with Svendsen.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s
program, the $8,500 Funicello/Holt Final, an Open Pace headed by
Allmyx’sliventexas and two divisions of the Alan Horowitz Elimination will
headline the evening’s action.
Tabbat Mcrey, who came from
out of the clouds to record her first Cal Expo victory last week, gets the top
billing in the Funicello/Holt Final, which is for pacing for fillies and mares.
***
There are two wagers offered
here nightly that come with a reduced 16 percent takeout rate. They are the
20-cent Pick 5, which begins on the first race; and the 20-cent Pick 4, which
comes with a $25,000-guaranteed gross pool.
