The California Sires Stakes season got underway at Cal Expo on Friday night, in which Claim Jumper and Whip And A Prayer were solid in victory
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In the first of the two $15,000 divisions for sophomore fillies, this for the trotters, Claim Jumper never looked back, but after needing some pre-race company to relax.
"She was a little crazy before the race," stated driver Steve Desomer. "But once I got the outrider, she calmed down for the race."
Making the lead an eighth of a mile past the start from post-three in the field of six, the main concern for Desomer blew up.
"My filly got out of there pretty good, and since the only horse I was worried about was Thatssomebracciola (Rick Plano), and she jumped it off into the first-turn, I was then pretty sure I could handle the rest of them."
Cutting out first half fractions of :29.4 and 1:01, Desomer popped the earplugs of his charge at the five-eighths mile pole, then gave her a few taps to the midway point of the final turn and got the response he wanted as Claim Jumper opened up with every stride. Reaching the three-quarter mile station, timed in 1:32.1, the daughter of Armbro Variable continued to expand her lead throughout the final quarter of a mile while only under minor urging in the last sixteenth of a mile.
Bred and owned by the Desomer Stables and trained by Vickie Desomer, Claim Jumper romped ($2.40) home by nine and three-quarter lengths, in a lifetime best 2:02.1. Eggwhite Inmy Beer (Tim Maier) attempted to follow the winner, but did hold second, and Chaxie (Luke Plano) finished two-lengths farther back, in third.
"She raced real good," finished Desomer.
In the division for the pacers, Whip And A Prayer, starting from post position six in the field of nine, came away in seventh for driver Rich Wojcio through first half fractions of :29 and :59.1.
On the move to the half-mile juncture with cover, Wojcio had an issue with 7/16ths of a mile to go as his cover, Poorlittlerichgirl (Tim Maier), was not moving forward, which had him half back in.
"To be honest with you, I didn't know whether to go back in or stay out."
Moving uncovered at the five-eighths mile marker when Poorlittlerichgirl went back to the inside, Wojcio urged his filly who then responded with good momentum midway through the final turn, then even more momentum at the three-quarter mile pole, timed in 1:28.2.
"She finishes every race well, but I had to use her to narrow the gap because the horses up front had gotten away a little bit. As a result, I was concerned that would take away from her normal finish -- not because of all the momentum she had, but because it was her first start since November 20.
"At the three-quarters, I was relieved because I was sure I was going to get a check, but I just didn't know what type of move she'd have in the stretch because I had used her more than I had expected to."
Catching up to fourth over cover very late in the final turn, then four-wide with 3/16ths of a mile to go, the daughter of Hi Ho Silverheels was brushing and flying to the seven-eighths mile pole.
"At the seven-eighths I thought I was going to win because she was pacing just as strong as she was at the top of the stretch."
Under some urging while continuing to close rapidly, Wojcio had a hard trying Diamond Player (Scott Cisco) measured and caught her in deep-stretch to win ($17.00) by one and a half lengths. Bred and owned by Frank Nevarez, Whip And A Prayer stopped the timer at 1:58.1, a lifetime best. Diamond Player was a game and sharp second, and Poor House (Steve Hyman) came from way back to finished a half-length farther back, in third.
"She finished very strongly like she always does. She was very good in her first start and it was one heck of a a job by trainer Gordie Graham to have her ready," concluded Wojcio.
(Cal Expo)