Sophomore fillies, on both gaits, were featured at Cal Expo on Friday night (April 27) in a pair of $12,000 California Sires Stakes
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In the event for the pacers, driver Steve Wiseman had good reason to be optimistic.
"I thought I had a decent shot considering she raced real big last week when she won," said Wiseman of his mount Diva Las Vegas.
Coming away in third position as the field of six dropped into post position order, there'd be no movement through first half fractions of :29.1 and :59.3. Did this concern Wiseman?
"I know there wasn't any pace to the race, but that didn't bother me because I didn't think that Twentyone Guns [and driver Scott Cisco], who were on the front, would prefer that over closing."
Moving first over to the 9/16ths mile marker and edging up through the final turn, the filly found herself just a half-length back at the three-quarter mile station, timed in 1:29.
"I thought I had a pretty good shot at that point because she was still pretty strong and I was sitting pretty chilly."
Getting closer late in the final turn, then taking a slim lead with less than 3/16ths of a mile to go, Wiseman went to work at the 7/8ths mile pole.
"Once I urged her she responded very well to it and paced very strongly right to the wire."
Opening up past mid-stretch, there'd be no catching the daughter of Hi Ho Silverheels-Prettylittlerebel as she'd go on to record a three and a quarter length victory ($3.40). Owned by Wayne Knittel in partnership with co-breeder and trainer Denise Maier, Diva Las Vegas stopped the timer at 1:56.3, a lifetime best. Little Anna Mae (Tim Maier), also trained by Denise Maier, finished in second and La Madawna De Rosa (Lemoyne Svendsen) finished just a neck farther back in third.
"She raced very strong and it was a very good race for her," finished Wiseman, who had a driving triple on the card.
In advance of the betting card, the trotters were in action in a two-horse non-wagering event, in which Silverlode romped again. Lagging the start five lengths from post one for driver Steve Desomer, the pair cut that margin to two and three-quarter lengths at the quarter pole, timed in :31.2. On the move at the 5/16ths marker and taking over the lead to the 3/8ths mile pole, the filly reached the half-mile juncture in 1:02.3. Opening up the lead at the three-quarter mile station, timed in 1:33, the daughter of British Sterling-Charlottes Web-Website poured it on in the lane and won under wraps by 14 and a quarter lengths in 2:03.1, a lifetime best. California Crush (Sue Boyce) finished in second.
(With files from Cal Expo)