The best pacers and trotters on the Cal Expo grounds were in action on Saturday night (December 31), and James Kennedy was the pilot for both feature winners

.

In the Winners Over Pace, for a purse of $4,500, Haggin Oaks was the pocket-rocket. Leaving from Post 2 in the field of five for her trainer, it took the five-year-old an eighth of a mile to get a brief lead before yielding well past the eighth into a :28 opening quarter -- a quarter that could have gone faster had driver Luke Plano not taken a hold of Marlin Hanover once making the lead. Did Kennedy use his mare?

"I did use her some because Mooney [and driver Lemoyne Svendsen] pushed the issue pretty good from the one-hole with Ivegotwhatuneed," said Kennedy. "But it didn't concern me because I could see I was going to get a trip because Luke left with Marlin Hanover."

Now sitting in the pocket in an easier second quarter to a half-mile time, travelled in :57.2, Kennedy, for good reason, would soon give his charge a couple of quick urges at and past the five-eighths mile pole.

"I was just trying to keep her up on the bit and on Luke's helmet, and she responded."

Getting set for the drive at the three-quarter mile marker, timed in 1:26.3, Kennedy had additional reasons to now be optimistic.

"I was sitting pretty comfortable and was just biding my time while she was feeling good -- and her feeling good made me feel pretty good."

On the move just to the head of the lane and being asked, Haggin Oaks moved forward and soon took a slim lead with a sixteenth of a mile to go, then while continuing to be urged, drew clear on the wire by one length. Owned by Shari Burns, Ferris Funk and Gerald Cimini, Haggin Oaks won ($5.40) in 1:54.2, thus recording her 30th career win. Cycle Power (Steve Wiseman) closed fast late to finish in second, and Marlin Hanover finished a half-length farther back in third.

"She's a nice mare who does everything I ask of her and was strong in the stretch. It was a solid race for her because I got a little trip for her for once as she didn't have to race on the front -- and she raced really well off of it, plus she beat the boys," finished Kennedy.

In the Winners Over Trot, also for $4,500, Putoneonnetformom started off a consecutive driving double for Kennedy.

Coming away fourth from Post 4 in the field of five into a :30.2 first quarter, Kennedy, with the pace being slow, moved his seven-year-old to the outside at the 5/16ths mile station, and had the lead with 9/16ths of a mile to go while under a decent grip into a 1:00.4 first half.

Getting a notch let out to the midway point of the final turn, Putoneonnetformom had 2-1/2 lengths on her foes at the three-quarter mile pole, timed in 1:31.

Under wheel-disc urging into the stretch, then all-out the rest of the way, the gelding wouldn't be caught while reporting home by 1-3/4-lengths. Owned by Jeff, Gerald and Diana Cimini, the Rocky Stidham-trained trotter won ($8.00) in 1:59.1. Shelby County (Anthony Succarotte), also trained by Stidham, finished in second, and Franks Best (Lemoyne Svendsen) finished one length farther back in third.

On the 15-race card, leading driver Steve Wiseman had four winners, giving him nine over the last two cards.

(Cal Expo)