Ryan Grundy is enjoying his first season at Cal Expo, and will be handling one of the better pacers he’s guided at this track when he gets behind Bettormeboy in Sunday night’s Open II Pace.
Bettormeboy will be one of two performers in the cast representing owners Richard Morita and David Yamada and trainer Lino Pacheco and was an impressive winner two back at this same level with Luke Plano guiding.
Grundy handled the lines in last week’s tougher assignment, where Bettormeboy checked in fifth behind such sharp customers as China King and St Lads Lotto. He figures to find his main challenge on Sunday coming from his stablemate One And Only.
“This is a good horse who always gives you everything he has,” related Grundy, who has driven the pacer several times at this session. “The rail opened up last week and he just couldn’t quite go with those horses, but he went his individual mile in 1:53 and a tick, which is just off his mark.”
As far as Ryan’s great Sacramento adventure, he is happy with the way things have gone. “It’s been a good winter and people have been very friendly and helpful. As far as the driving goes, I pretty much have kept the same style, because I was driving on mile tracks before I came down.”
Speaking of that, Grundy related that he will be leaving following Easter weekend to head back to the Great White North. “I’m looking forward to driving at the new track near Calgary called Century Downs. We’ve been sharing a track with the Thoroughbreds up to this point, and it’s going to be exciting.”
Featured Pace Brings Out One And Only
One And Only, who made his seasonal debut in a pretty tough spot at the top rung last week, gets some class relief and heads the cast in Saturday night’s Open II Pace at Cal Expo.
The contest is the main event on a 12-race Watch and Wager LLC program that gets underway at 4:55 p.m. and it goes as the third affair on the evening.
One And Only is a seven-year-old son of Bettors Delight out of the Western Hanover mare Gallie Too who campaigns for Richard Morita and David Yamada with Lino Pacheco training and Luke Plano doing the honours.
The bay gelding comes into Sunday’s headliner with $170,000 in his account and a 1:51.2 mark that was established last season. He has gone a number of big races over the years at this track, is a very nice fit with this cast and figures to be very attractive to Sunday’s players.
One And Only was making his first start of the year when he suited up in last weekend’s Open Pace and was no threat while checking in sixth that night behind China King. The combination of a race under his belt and the softer company will certainly work in his favour.
Bettormeboy gives the same owners and trainer another strong look at the outcome and this pacer will have the services of Ryan Grundy. He captured the March 7 Open II Pace in impressive fashion at 9-1 and then finished fifth in the aforementioned China King race at most recent asking.
Completing the field are the Steve Wiseman reined-and-trained Jazzmanian Devil from the cozy rail slot; Cosmos, who hails from the Richard Dunneback barn with Tim Maier at the controls; and the Gordie Graham-conditioned King Of The Crop who has the services of Bruce Clarke.
(Cal Expo)