By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
River Lassena, who has posed
for pictures following half of her 22 trips to the post, looks to add to that
impressive resume in Sunday night’s $12,500 Jack Williams Memorial for pacing
fillies and mares.
The main event tops a 10-race
card presented by Watch and Wager LLC with first post set for 4:55 p.m. The
co-feature is a $6,500 Open Pace for fillies and mares headed by Life Isa
Shortwalk and Shesureissomething.
River Lassena is a 5-year-old
daughter of Riverboat King who is owned by Mark Anderson, hails from the Gordie
Graham barn and will once again have the services of James Kennedy while
leaving from the inside post.
In last week’s Williams prep,
the bay miss dropped into an early stalking position, attacked first over on
the final turn and came home determinedly to hang a half-length decision on
favored Senga Nightmare.
The latter will be looking
for some revenge after also turning in a big mile last week and just falling
short. The Vertical Horizon mare captured the Funicello/Holt Final two weeks ago
for her owner/driver/trainer Ryan Grundy.
In last week’s tour, she was
unhurried early as is her custom. She began to pick up momentum to the final
turn while following River Lassena, took aim in the stretch and could not quite
get the job done.
Taking on this pair are
Tartan Patch, May Day Maggie, Mapua Magic Ten, Hurry Home, Uniquerock, A Little
Rusty and Senga Nightmare.
Race honors memory of
Jack Williams
He started in the
standardbred industry in 1947, grooming horses for his father, famed Michigan
horsemen John (Jack) Williams Sr. and drove in his first race two years later.
He scored first victory in 1950 at Wolvernine Raceway.
Before opening his
own public stable, Williams furthered the racetrack education he received from
his father by serving several seasons as second trainer for the storied Joe
O’Brien.
In 1963 he won the
very first “Battle of Brandywine” with Adora’s Dream, while one of his first
major drives was in the 1958 in what became known as the American Pacing
Classic when Williams was only 28 years old. He joined 1,000-win club in 1973.
He had
three world class trotters - Pershing; South Bend and McArthur who all went on
to compete overseas. Top horses he drove
included Diamond Hal, Czar Volo, Easy Prom, Adora’s Dream, Thor Hanover, Steady
Star, Baby Tears, Thor Hanover and Battling Beau. In 1971, subbing for
Gene Riegle, Jack set a world record of 1:58 2/5 with the 3-year-old gelding
pacer Big Kahuna.
Williams not only
drove on the California circuit but also attended tracks back east such as
Sportsmans Park, Hawthorne Park, Hazel Park, The Meadows, The Meadowlands and
was entered as a threatening challenge in The Little Brown Jug and was a
regular on the Grand Circuit.
After retiring as a
trainer/driver, Williams became a well-respected Steward in California
for standardbred, thoroughbred and quarter horse racing.
