The three-year-old pacers will get another chance at some big money this weekend at Cal-Expo with a pair of $15,000 California Sire Stakes up for grabs.
There have been two big-money dances each for both the boys and the girls, resulting in four different winners, and it will be interesting to see how they shake out this weekend as the divisions are in search of a clear-cut leader.
As things have worked out, both winners of the filly stakes have prevailed from the pocket, as Doubleontherocks got the job done from the two-hole in the first one and then had pace-setting duties in the last clash and was overhauled by the stalking Rockin The Dragon that evening.
Doubleontherocks is a homebred daughter of Lettherockbegin who is owned and was bred by Nikki Hudson and is reined and trained by husband Luke Plano. “I claimed her dam and it turned out she had some issues,” Luke related. “I thought she would make a good broodmare and we bred her to a Minnesota sire.
“We got her ready last year in Indiana and Minnesota and she had one start at Running Aces, then we backed off and pointed for these races.”
So far, so good on that front with one trophy and a runner-up finish in the first two Sire Stakes, and it’s time for take three this weekend.
Meanwhile, it’s been Believe In Dragons and Lodi Phillip in the two stakes gatherings for the colts and geldings. The former was a game first-over victor in the initial battle on February 21, while Lodi Phillip avenged a troubled trip in that affair to post a coast-to-coast decision in the most recent divisional get-together two weeks ago.
Sire Stakes, Allmyxsliventexas atop Cal Expo bill
A $15,000 California Sire Stakes for the three-year-old pacing fillies and a $6,200 Open Pace headed by Allmyxsliventexas are the main attractions on Saturday night’s Cal Expo program.
Watch and Wager LLC will present 13 races with things getting underway at 4:50 p.m.
Rockin The Dragon is one of the major players in the Sire Stakes. By Custard The Dragon out of the Rocknroll Hanover mare Shes Just Rockin, Rockin The Dragon is owned by Mark Anderson, hails from the Gordie Graham shedrow and will again have Jacob Cutting in the sulky.
Sent off at 7-1 in the most recent stakes clash two weeks ago, Rockin The Dragon left into a pocket trip, brushed to command into the stretch and went on to a four-length decision over odds-on choice Doubleontherocks.
In the first stakes clash for this division on February 20 while being sent off the 7-5 second choice, Doubleontherocks left into a pocket trip behind Cookiesncream, was up to that that one away at mid-stretch and went on to a two-and-a-quarter length score.
Cookiesncream has had to settle for a show finish in the first two Sire Stakes at this meet. She was a sharp winner here on February 5 for her owner/breeders Wayne and Rod Knittel, conditioner Bob Johnson and pilot Nick Roland and has the rail for this assignment.
Completing the field are Witch Hunter for trainer Marco Rios with Cordarius Stewart in the bike; and Shewentthataway, who gives trainer Johnson a second look with Mooney Svendsen at the controls.
(Cal Expo)