Jacob Cutting is one of the new faces from Alberta and is also one of the youngest at just 18 years old.

Jacob has ventured down to Cal Expo with seven horses, including a couple of babies, and has already scored a pair of with his three-year-old pacing mare Paloma Ruiz. She was 50-1 when she dead-heated for the score on Dec. 6, then was a much shorter price when she came right back with a win as a 5-2 shot.

Paloma Ruiz returned last weekend to post a runner-up finish while Jacob added another snapshot to his resume last weekend when he guided La Diva De Rosa to a $14 victory for owner-breeder Cynthia Tupper and trainer Richard Bertrand.

“A lot of my family, including my dad, is involved in harness racing,” said Cutting, who recorded his first trip to the winner’s circle this past August up in the Great White North. “I’ve always been into sports, and I pretty much knew from an early age that I wanted to be in harness racing.”

And the main reason Jacob came down to Cal Expo? “The warm weather,” he said without missing a beat. “Right now, it’s 20 below back home.”

As far as his impressions of the Sacramento track, Cutting has nothing but nice things to say. “The people have been very welcoming, the track is great and so is the backside.” Right back at you, Jacob.

(Cal Expo)