Getting the lead in easier fashion than his last three outings was the key to Putoneonnetformom winning for the 23rd time in his career.
Winners Over trotters, racing for a $6,800 purse, were featured on Friday night (June 8) at Cal Expo, on which Putoneonnetformom never looked back. Before starting from his assigned post in the field of five, driver James Kennedy was appreciative.
"I was happy I had the three-hole and thought it would work out great for me because he had been posted the outside so many times recently," said Kennedy. "With the three-hole, it gave me a great chance even with Alpine Hawk [and driver Rich Wojcio] in the race."
Leaving and getting an easy lead just as the field entered the first turn, Kennedy was already grabbing some leather while continuing to be pleased when the field reached the quarter pole.
"I saw the timer come up in :29.2 and I thought that was perfect."
Getting his own way while being rated in the second quarter, the eight-year-old reached half-mile juncture, timed in :58.2.
"I looked over my shoulder a couple of times in the second quarter because I was worried Alpine Hawk might be coming, but fortunately for me he wasn't so that allowed me to continue to go nice even fractions. The :29 second quarter was very reasonable because it was wind-aided."
Remaining under a hold while at the same time having a notch let out to the midway point of the final turn, Kennedy explains why he asked a little.
"It's kind of his M.O. in that he doesn't have a big burst home, but he has a good little over a quarter of a mile grind."
On top by two and a quarter lengths while still under a hold at the three-quarter mile station, timed in 1:27.3, Kennedy kept smiling.
"I was pretty happy because at that point there was no one near me. Then when I popped the earplugs just past the three-quarters, he responded well and trotted away very, very nicely."
Leading by two lengths at the head of the lane and being urged some, Kennedy urged his home-free charge a little more to the seven-eighths mile pole while on top by three lengths at that point and looking impossible to catch.
"He was very good and game through the stretch."
Under a drive through the wire, but in a no-doubter, the gelding won ($7) by two lengths. Bred and owned by Jeff, Gerald and Diana Cimini, the Rocky Stidham-trained gelding stopped the timer at 1:57.1, a lifetime best. Dreaming Of Amy (Luke Plano) was a perfect trip second, and Alpine Hawk, the 3-5 favourite, finished a non-threatening third, another two and a half lengths farther back.
"He raced super and this was one of his better miles he raced for me," finished Kennedy, who recorded a grand slam on the program.
(Cal Expo)