By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Pridecrest will look to make
it a hat trick as he heads the cast in Saturday night’s featured $7,400 Open
Trot.
The main event will be the
third on an 11-race card presented by Watch and Wager LLC and things will get
underway at 6:10 p.m.
Pridecrest is a 6-year-old
son of Angus Hall who is owned by Heather Mathews, takes his lessons from Steve
Wiseman and has Mooney Svendsen giving directions. He comes into this
assignment with 37 wins from his 148 starts with a 1:53 2/5 mark and $313,000
in his account.
The dark-hued sidewheeler is
coming off back-to-back wire jobs at the top level. Pridecrest took them all
the way with Wiseman at the controls on January 24, then came back two weeks
later to win comfortably as the 3-5 choice with Svendsen in the bike.
Mandeville competes for
owner/driver/trainer Gerry Longo, and has recorded a win and a second from his
two appearances. He’s looking for his 24th lifetime score with
$221,000 in earnings.
Mandeville started 2020 with
a powerful win at this Open level going a mile and a half, then missed a start
before having to settle for second behind Pridecrest after that one
jogged on the front end last week. He figures to be tighter for this
assignment.
Pridecrest and Mandeville
have the outside two posts in the field and will be challenged by Majestic Lady
Jo, Dougs Hobby Horse, Windsun Galaxie and Banker’s For All.
One Gorgeous Gal proves
wild ride
To say last week’s debut
victory by the 3-year-old pacing filly One Gorgeous Gal was eventful would be a
major understatement.
Owned by Billie Schwartz and
Junior Wilkinson and trained by Wilkinson, the dark-hued miss was sent off at
19-1, no doubt some of that lack of support coming from her pre-race antics.
“I had never been behind her
before,” related Roberts. “Luke Plano had qualified her and was supposed to
drive, but he had a horse of his own in the race.
“Junior told me she was nice
filly, but she could be a touch on the lazy side. It was also going to be her
first time under the lights.”
Roberts explained that about
five steps after she set foot on the track, One Gorgeous Gal started kicking
and became uncontrollable, including shying when the outrider tried to lend
some assistance.
“She settled down by the time
the gate rolled,” her pilot noted.
The Schwartz/Wilkinson
homebred left cleanly, was out and moving before the half while racing second
over, swung out for the drive and was up by a half-length for the $41 upset.
“It’s good that we came out,
because a horse made a break and scattered the field,” Roberts said. “All
things considered, it was a pretty amazing performance and Junior was
ecstatic.”
Taking note of what went on
before and during the race, track announcer Gary Siebel proclaimed as they hit
the finish line, “From the ridiculous to the sublime!”
One Gorgeous Gal was
scheduled to make her second start on Friday night’s program.
One Gorgeous Gal was one of
three wins over the weekend for Roberts, who also guided He Grins Again and
Getter Queen Flush to victory for trainer George Reider.
Roberts has landed in the
charmed enclosure following 16 of his 101 trips to the post at this meeting,
and it’s unlikely any of those performances was quite an interesting as the one
turned in by One Gorgeous Gal.
