Claiming pacers were in the spotlight at Cal-Expo on last night (October 28), on which Chomp N Stomp was a game winner.
After having started from Post 4, the five-year-old Chomp N Stomp got the lead an eighth of a mile after the start, then pushed the pace until yielding for the pocket three sixteenths of a mile past the start into a :28 opening quarter.
"I didn't use him too much and he felt fairly comfortable going out of there at that pace," said driver Luke Plano. "Plus I got to the inside fairly early too and that helped."
No longer in the pocket at the half-mile pole (:58) as a result of second-quarter movement by others, Plano and his charge found themselves fourth with a half of a mile to go.
"I kind of expected the move to the top from Gee Gee Cyril Lee (driven by Rick Plano), but the move from Leadmeastray (Tim Maier) was a little surprising because I've driven him a handful of times and I know his best races are from behind. I thought him being on the front would help me a little because the move he made was fast and that could see him come back to me."
After having moved first-over to the midway point of the final turn, the pair started to gain ground at the three-quarter mile pole, which was timed in 1:26, but Plano and his charge were still almost four lengths back off a fast third quarter.
"I was first-up, but I wasn't driving my horse hard and used him as little as possible while being first-over into a :28 third-quarter. I thought Leadmeastray was going to slow down and he wasn't my biggest concern."
Quickly picking up Leadmeastray to the seven-eighths mile pole, Chomp N Stomp forged his way to the lead to mid-stretch, but now had to deal with a surging Western Hurricane (James Kennedy).
"When Western Hurricane got alongside I thought he might have had me for a second, but when he got eye to eye with my horse - - my horse started to dig in."
Owned by Osmin Carrera and trained by Dario Solares, the gelding held on to win ($6.60) by a head in 1:55, a seasonal best. Western Hurricane closed nicely to be second, and Alias Jones (Ralph Silvestri III) finished another one and a quarter lengths further back, in third.
"He made a strong move to the front for me and had a chance to give it up, but didn't. He fought tooth and nail to the wire and raced strongly," said Plano, the meet's leading driver.
(With files from Cal-Expo)