Jailer heads into Cal Expo’s Saturday program riding a two-race winning streak for Rick Bertrand, who drives, trains and co-owns the four-year-old trotter with Doug Flores.
The sharp trotter will suit up for Saturday’s sixth race, where he has the outside slot in the field of six with Bertrand doing the honours in the conditioned affair. Bertrand and Flores are also represented in the fourth race with the aptly-named Winonefordoug, who also drew the outside post.
Jailer has been a punctual favourite in his last two appearances, overcoming the demanding Post 10 on March 28 and returning last week to work out a pocket trip from the cozy rail slot en route to a length and a half decision.
“Doug and I purchased Jailer from Ken Booher and Chuck Taylor in Michigan,” Bertrand related. “Ken really liked him and said he was a really nice horse and probably wouldn’t even sell him, but at this time in his life he only wants one horse and had just bought a two-year-old.”
Flores is a California native who retired a few years ago from a hobby shop he owned and operated with his wife, Lorraine. He always enjoyed coming out to the races and eventually Rick asked him if he wanted to go 50-50 on a horse.
“By now, we’ve owned a couple dozen horses,” Bertrand explained, “including the pacer we decided to rename Winonefordoug. That said, I know Jailer has become one of Doug’s favourites.”
Sire Stakes Brings Out Talented Sophomore Pacers
A $10,000 California Sire Stakes event for the three-year-old pacing colts featuring Uringoodhands, Lodi Machette Man and Hi Hos Little Rev will get the marquee treatment at Cal Expo Saturday night.
A 12-race program is on tap under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post set for 6:10 p.m. The sire stakes occupies the fifth-race slot on the card.
Uringoodhands has accounted for four of the six stakes races decided at the meet for this group and gets the top billing this weekend. The son of Kents On Nuke races for Mark Anderson, hails from the Gordie Graham barn and will once again have the services of James Kennedy.
Uringoodhands won the first sire stakes event for this group on January 17; just missed in the next one and then rattled off three straight big-money scores, including his March 14 romp where he set his mark of 1:55 flat. He had to settle for the runner-up prize in the most recent stakes dance two weeks ago behind upsetter Lodi Machette Man.
The latter is a Little Steven offspring who is owned by Mary Harris and Pierre Girard; takes his lessons from Girard, and will have Luke Plano in the sulky. Plano was guiding the colt for the first time in that last stakes dance on March 28, gave him a perfect pocket trip and he responded with a length and three-quarters tally. He returned with another conditioned victory last weekend.
Hi Hos Little Rev earned his stakes trophy on January 31, holding off Uringoodhands by a neck that night for the decision. Vanessa Gilliam owns, Bob Johnson trains and Mooney Svendsen will guide.
Rounding out the field are Shotgun Rider, who gives the Johnson barn two looks at the outcome with Steve Wiseman in the sulky; Laissezmoipicoler with Williams Hernandez; and Sounion, who has the services of Tim Maier.
(Cal Expo)