Steve Desomer will be guiding his mare Silverlode at Cal Expo on Friday in the finale of the Dr. Gary Budhan Trotting Series, and he is hoping to pick up another nice cheque with the five-year-old homebred daughter of the late British Sterling.

Silverlode, who has some sires stakes trophies on her mantle, is attempting to win her second series finale at the current Cal Expo meet (she captured the Joe Lighthill final in late November). She was second and third in the first two legs of the ‘Budahn’ behind Donna Letsgo and Hooray Katie.

For the 77-year-old Desomer, he will be making sulky appearance No. 12,701 in a career that has seen him land in the winner’s circle on 2,609 occasions and bank nearly $11 million in the process.

The veteran, who runs the barn along with his wife, Vickie, was asked how things have changed since the days of Western Harness Racing at the soon to be demolished Hollywood Park.

“The racing has changed dramatically since the days of Hollywood Park,” Steve related. “Back in the ‘70s, most of the drivers were also trainers. The horsemen were more complete in that they had knowledge of shoeing, soundness, driving, rigging and training and entering.

“Today many of the drivers specialize in just driving. Driving against the likes of Tyler Smith and other young drivers puts the older drivers at a distinct disadvantage in that they do not react as quickly as needed. Most know the drivers and horses they race against, but making that split-second decision becomes more difficult with the passing of time.”

Dr. Gary Budahn Trotting Series Finale In Spotlight

The $13,750 final of the Dr. Gary Budahn Trotting Series, with first and second leg winners and stablemates Hooray Katie and Donna Letsgo figuring to get the majority of the attention, is the main event on Friday night’s Cal Expo program.

A 14-race card is on tap Friday evening, with the Budahn final set as the seventh event on the program. First post is 5:20 p.m.

The Dr. Gary Budahn Series honours the memory of a mainstay of California harness racing for over 30 years who passed away in 2009.

Dr. Budahn served on the board of directors of the California Harness Horsemen’s Association (CHHA) for over 12 years and was the president of the organization for three years. He was a strong voice for harness racing in the state and was always there for the horsemen, helping them in any way he could.

Looking at the field, Hooray Katie is a five-year-old daughter of Chip Chip Hooray who is owned by William Neumeister, takes her lessons from Bob Johnson and will once again be guided by Tyler Smith. She proved best in her divisions of the first two legs of this event, last week showing the way home by a half-length over Silverlode.

Donna Letsgo gives the Johnson barn two solid looks at the outcome in the headliner. The Keystone Blitz mare is owned by the trainer, Marty Garey and Henry Wiesenstock with Luke Plano doing the honours. In last week’s penultimate leg, the bay miss made every pole a winning one and came home with two and a quarter lengths to spare.

Completing the field are High Dollar for Tim Maier; Bar Back, who has the services of Steve Wiseman; Lodi Dorian Blues, Chip Lackey; Silverlode with Steve Desomer; Sky Keeper for James Kennedy; Ali De Vie, to be handled by Gene Vallandingham; and Southwind Kean, who leaves from the outside with Marc Mosher at the controls.

(Cal Expo)