The task turned out to be tougher, but the result was the same - another triumph for Claudius Augustus

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Open Handicap trotters, racing for a purse of $6,100, were featured at Cal-Expo on Friday night, on which Claudius Augustus got the hat-trick.

Despite being assigned post-nine in the field of the six, yes post-nine, driver Steve Wiseman wasn't fazed.

"The nine-hole didn't really bother me because he's a classy veteran that knows what to do," said Wiseman. "After talking to his trainer Bob Johnson before the race, he left the strategy up to me so I decided I was going to let him trot out of there a little. When I looked over, however, and saw that four of them were trotting out of there pretty good, I decided to just back off."

Leaving and racing five-wide to the first-turn, then taking back into the turn while three-wide, the six year-old found himself two-wide after an eighth of a mile, then found a seat fifth just before the field had traveled 3/16ths of a mile into a very hot :27.3 first-quarter. Did Wiseman use his charge?

"I maybe used him a little, but not that much because I had backed him off pretty quickly."

Remaining in fifth position at the half-mile marker, timed in :57.3, Wiseman tugged on the right-line past that juncture and nicely moved his trotter first-over into a helpful moderate pace.

"The slow tempo in the third-quarter probably benefited me because I was able to advance with the pace not being that much."

Quickly passing horses on the final-bend, Claudius Augustus eventually drew even with the pace-setting Australian invader The Windsurfer (Rocky Stidham) at the three-quarter mile station, timed in 1:27.3.

"I knew he'd be good at that point because I hadn't really asked him to trot yet, nor had I pulled the earplugs."

Taking a slim lead at the head of the stretch, then drawing clear with less than 3/16ths of a mile to go, Claudius Augustus soon had company that was charging at mid-stretch.

"When I saw Easter Call [and Jim Lackey] coming, I was a little concerned because he was coming pretty good despite my horse trotting home pretty good too. When he got to my wheel I popped the earplugs and my horse responded right on, but Easter Call kept coming. There was just a little concern a few steps from the wire when Easter Call got real close, but my horse prevailed."

Owned by Debbie Budahn, Claudius Augustus won ($2.80) by a neck, in 1:56.3, a seasonal best and his 18th career victory in just 37 starts. Easter Call, who was used early in the swift opening quarter, was a terrific second, and The Windsurfer finished another 3-3/4 lengths farther back, in third.

"I raced him tonight and used him a little harder than I have been, but he's a nice classy horse who showed up to race like he always does," finished Wiseman.

(Cal-Expo)