A pair of $15,000 California Sires Stakes were featured at Cal Expo on Friday night (November 5), on which Claim Jumper and Whip And A Prayer scored
.
In the first division, this for the trotters held prior to the wagering card, Claim Jumper never looked back for driver Steve Desomer while all but one of her opponents failed to stay on stride.
Leaving from post-three in the field of five and getting the lead quickly while having open lengths, the filly never looked back while winning by 7-1/4-lengths. Bred & owned by the Desomer Stables, and trained by Vickie Desomer, Claim Jumper stopped the timer at 2:02.4, a lifetime mark. Thatssomebracciola (Rick Plano) stayed on her proper gait and finished in second, and Eggwhiteinmybeer (Tim Maier) finished third, another 14-3/4-lengths farther back.
In the second and final division for the pacers, driver Rich Wojcio knew from the week before that he needed to be careful with Whip And A Prayer.
"I just wanted to make sure she didn't run because she made a break early last week," said Wojcio. "I was hoping to get away as close as I could without using her that much. I felt if I kept her pacing that she definitely had a very good chance."
Coming away in fifth position from post one in the field of seven, Whip And A Prayer gapped two-lengths into a :28.4 first-quarter, then closed the gap at the half-mile juncture, timed in :58.4.
Moving first-over past the half, the filly caught cover just past the 9-16ths mile marker. Was this a positive or a negative?
"At first when Diamond Player (Luke Plano) pulled I wasn't sure if that was good because my horse had momentum and does her pacing right in through that turn. But being that she won the race, it obviously didn't hurt her."
Now moving three-wide just to the three-quarter mile pole, timed in 1:29.2, Wojcio was confident.
"She had very good pace and I thought I had a very good chance from there."
Brushing very late in the final-turn and charging into the lane, the youngster took a slim lead with an eighth of a mile to go, but then drifted out past that station.
"She has been doing that because she puts steps in late sometimes and she did that tonight at that point. I was concerned because I actually thought she was going to break, but she gathered herself back together. From that point on I was just concerned with trying to keep her pacing - - if I could. As it would turn out she maintained her composure and finished the job off."
Holding on to her slim advantage, but while not being driven, Whip And A Prayer actually drew clear on the wire to win ($15.60) by 1-1/4-lengths. Bred & owned by Frank Nevarez, the daughter of Hi Ho Silverheels established a lifetime mark with her 1:59 triumph. Poorlittlerichgirl (Tim Maier) finished in second, and Racetrack Diva (Steve Wiseman) finished another three-quarters of one-length farther back, in third.
"She's a small filly who tries hard. I thought it was a very good effort and trainer Gordie Graham has done a great job with her," concluded Wojcio.
In a $5,200 Open Filly & Mare pace, Haggin Oaks repeated for trainer/driver James Kennedy. Owned by Shari Burns, Ferris Funk & Gerald Cimini, the four year-old paced to a winning ($9.40) mile in 1:54.3, equaling a lifetime mark. Red Star Ruffles (Sue Boyce) closed nicely with a :26.2 final-quarter to finish in second, and Biggest Big Bertha (Rick Plano) finished just a head farther back, in third.
Live harness racing continues at Cal Expo on Saturday (November 6) at 5:40 p.m. (PDT). On Saturday and every live card, Cal Expo offers free admission, as well as free preferred & general parking after 4:30 p.m. Also on Saturday, its Dollar Night, on which hot-dogs; beer, soda, and wine will be sold for one dollar from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.
(Cal-Expo)
Now on every Saturday card, Cal Expo offers a reduced 15 percent takeout rate on both the Early (Races 2-5) & Late Pick-4 (Races 11-14). Additionally, BOTH Pick-4’s will have a $10,000 gross guaranteed pool.