“I bought him about four years ago… If you saw him around the barn, you would say he acts more like a four or five-year-old. He loves to pony, he loves to train and he loves to race.”
Rays Rayzer has been the darling of the longshot players of late, getting the job done at 29-1 two weeks ago and 9-1 at most recent asking for trainer Edwin Quevedo.
Considering that leading driver Luke Plano has been in the sulky for both those scores, it becomes even more interesting that this 13-year-old pacer has been allowed to go off at such long odds.
“I bought him about four years ago in Minnesota,” Quevedo related. “If you saw him around the barn, you would say he acts more like a four or five-year-old. He loves to pony, he loves to train and he loves to race.”
The long odds on Rays Rayzer were a result of his three starts between February 4 and February 25, where he was beaten double digits on each occasion and appeared to be off his game.
Joining forces with Plano on March 3, he rode a second-over trip to the a neck score and the $60 mutuel, then came right back last weekend with a deja-vu mile while rewarding his backers to the tune of $21 with Plano once again doing the honours.
“He had some problems behind that we had to take care of,” his trainer noted. “I also think the warmer weather and faster track helps him. I’ve had a lot of success with Luke, and with a horse like this who likes to come from off the pace, the trip is always important.”
SILVERLODE PUTS WINNING STREAK ON THE LINE
Silverlode, who has been the dominant player in the Cal Expo trotting ranks this year, once again will be asked to overcome the demanding assigned Post 10 as she heads the field for Saturday evening’s Open Trot.
The main event will go as the second event on a 12-race program presented by Watch and Wager LLC. First post is set for 6:10 p.m.
Silverlode is an eight-year-old homebred daughter of British Sterling out of the Website mare Charlottes Web who is owned by Desomer Stables Inc, trained by Vickie Desomer and will have Luke Plano handling the lines.
Silverlode comes into the assignment with $152,000 in her bank account and a 1:55.1 mark that was established over this track last season. She is perfect in three starts on the year, putting her versatility and class on display in the process.
The Desomer colourbearer left into a pocket journey in the January 13 Open and overpowered favoured arch-rival Flameon that evening. She has been 1-5 in her last two outings without that foe in the line-up and has not disappointed her many backers.
Silverlode looped the field to prevail by four and a half-lengths on February 11, then captured the most recent Open clash on February 24 while doing her work from this same assigned Post 10 in game fashion.
Completing the cast are My Little Susie with Mooney Svendsen; Kickitinwithkohler, James Kennedy; Lodi Dorian Blues with Steve Wiseman; Silverhill Volo, Chip Lackey and Blue Spark, who will leave from the rail with Sean Smithpeters in the sulky.
(Cal Expo)