Sophomore distaffers were featured at Cal Expo on Friday night (May 6) in California Sires Stakes action, in which Thatssomebracciola and Math Wiz were victorious
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In the featured $15,000 stake in a non-betting event prior to the wagering program, this for the trotters, Thatssomebracciola let Claim Jumper (Steve Desomer) know that she has company atop the divisional list.
Leaving from Post 3 in the field of five for breeder, owner and trainer Rick Plano and getting the lead after a sixteenth of a mile, the daughter of Armbro Scribe yielded after three-sixteenths of a mile into a :29.3 opening quarter. Sitting in the pocket while Dancinwiththedevil (Steve Wiseman) and Chaxie (Luke Plano) duked it out, Thatssomebracciola eventually found herself in the three-hole, while racing in fourth position at the half-mile pole, timed in a quick :59 for the class.
"My filly was well within herself and Dancinwiththedevil and Chaxie were getting used up pretty good on the front," noted Plano. "That helped me, but I just wanted to make sure I had clearance when I wanted to move and get around them."
Racing second over just past the half and enjoying very live cover from Claim Jumper until being left first over at the five-eighths mile marker, Plano and his charge found the pocket just past the midway point of the final turn. Was this helpful?
"It was very helpful," chuckled Plano. "That made her a cinch from there because I could draft her a little bit and not have to use her in the turn. Plus by being inside, she wouldn't be affected by the headwind in the stretch."
With Claim Jumper and Thatssomebracciola now pulling away from the field at the three-quarter mile marker, timed in 1:29, Plano soon pulled the trigger at the head of the lane.
"I moved her sooner than I wanted to, but that was because I was kind of sure she'd win from there."
Getting one urge at the seven-eighths mile pole and getting to the front, Thatssomebracciola found out it wasn't going to be easy.
"I thought I was going to put Claim Jumper away a lot easier than I did, but Claim Jumper is a very tough filly...but I prevailed."
Pretty much putting a hard trying Claim Jumper away late, Thatssomebracciola went on to win by one and a quarter lengths in 2:00.3, a lifetime best. Claim Jumper was second-best on this night and Eggwhite Inmy Beer (Tim Maier) finished 10 and three-quarter lengths farther back, in third.
"She raced extremely well and I got a real good trip and the type of trip you need to win these stake races," finished Plano. For the veteran horseman, the driving victory was the start of four victories for the second night in a row, now tying him for the meet's leading driver with Lemoyne Svendsen.
On the wagering card, 11 pacing ladies fought for the top 10 spots in a $6,000 Sires Stakes elimination, in which Math Wiz scored.
Lagging the start two lengths from Post 4 for driver Luke Plano, the pair came away in sixth position into a :29.3 first-quarter. Racing third over at the seven-sixteenths mile pole into a :59 first half and into a 1:28.1 three-quarters, the young Plano moved his filly three and four-wide to the top of the stretch. Closing willingly in the lane, the daughter of Distinguishedbaron outfought a hard trying Whip And A Prayer (Rich Wojcio) to win ($19.20) by a half-length.
Bred and owned by Wayne and Rod Knittel, the Rick Plano-trained pacer stopped the timer at 1:57.4, a lifetime best. Poor House (James Kennedy) finished one and three-quarter lengths back in third.
"She's a green filly and I kind of wanted to race her with cover and see how she'd be," stated Luke Plano. "As it turned out she got a real good trip and fought nicely to the wire for me. She put in a real nice effort and raced great and I was real happy with her. She's a pretty nice filly with three starts now under her belt and hopefully has a chance to get better."
Also advancing to the May 20 $15,000 final, from fourth to 10th place, were Dine N Wine, Racetrack Diva, Feetdontfailmenow, Diamond Player, Hi Fidelity, Swing Vote and Moximum.
(Cal Expo)