After spending several years under the tutelage of his father, Lino, 25-year-old Jessie Pacheco is making a name for himself at Cal Expo.
Jessie was born in California, but after an accident when he was just a year old, Jessie went to Mexico to live with his mother. While visiting his father at age nine, he was exposed to harness racing, and upon his return to the United States at 18 he set out to make it his life’s work.
“In Mexico I rode quarter horses, but I knew I wanted to come back [to Cal Expo] and work with my dad and the harness horses,” Jessie explained.
It was two years ago that Pacheco took out his trainer’s license and he has been making a steady stream of visits to the winner’s circle during the current Cal Expo meeting.
“Everything I know about this sport I learned from my dad. I also want to thank the owners who have been very supportive.”
In addition to training, Jessie is slowly segueing into driving, with a few evening ventures to his credit at this meeting. “I definitely need to get more experience with the driving,” he noted. “Right now, I’m concentrating on the training.”
Talkin Tootsie, Silverlode headline main event
Talkin Tootsie, who has won three of her last five starts, including an upset over division leader Pridecrest two weeks ago, and the hard-hitting Silverlode loom the top combatants for Friday night’s $5,500 Open II Trot.
There will be 12 races on the Watch and Wager LLC program – the headliner has been carded as the fourth race of the evening. A pair of $6,500 California Sire Stakes will be decided as non-betting races prior to the regular card.
Talkin Tootsie – a five-year-old daughter of Cantab Hall from the Westgate Crown mare Minnesota Carol – carries the banner of Martin Garey and Henry Wieseneck. She takes her lessons from Bob Johnson and will once again have Mooney Svendsen giving directions Friday.
Two weeks ago in the Open Trot, Talkin Tootsie was patient early, began to pick up momentum turning for home, and hung a neck decision on the 1-5 Pridecrest in a 1:57.2 performance.
In last week’s clash at the head of the trotting class, Pridecrest returned to his winning ways with a coast-to-coast score, while Talkin Tootsie sat the pocket and had to settle for third that evening. Silverlode was up to nail her for the place money in that affair, and, like Talkin Tootsie, will appreciate getting away from Pridecrest. She is a nine-year-old British Sterling homebred who races for the Desomer Stables with Vickie Desomer conditioning and Steve Wiseman in the sulky.
Completing the field will be Silverhill Volo, The Evictor, Franks Best, Windsun Galaxie and Dougs Hobby Horse.
(With files from Cal Expo)