After suffering through a fairly lean first two thirds of the season, Try This is back on the beam, as the four-year-old son of Armbro Seminary has recorded back-to-back victories at Cal-Expo for owner/trainer Raul Escobedo.
Try This found a pretty good spot to end a dry spell two back with Lemoyne 'Mooney' Svendsen. The pair had left hard and worked out a pocket trip before having made the winning move into the stretch. Last week, Try This sat well back in the early stages for Rick Plano before blasting home for a two and a half-length decision.
“I bought him from Gilbert Herrera a few months ago and you couldn’t ask for a nicer horse,” Escobedo said. “He hasn’t made any breaks since I’ve had him, and that’s very important with a trotter. When they stay flat, you don’t have to be as careful with them.”
Try This was a stakes winner as a two-year-old and spent much of last year mixing it up with the best of his vintage in the big-money events. He has segued nicely to this claiming level as his fifth birthday is approaching.
“He was close to the pace when he won that race with Mooney, but he came from the back last time for Rick and I think that’s actually his best style,” Raul noted. “When I saw those fast fractions and he was sitting comfortably back there, I liked our chances. That was the first time Rick had ever driven him, and he said he really liked him.”
Series Finals On Tap This Weekend
There will be a pair of series finales this coming weekend at Cal-Expo. The Gee Gee Digger will take place on Friday, October 15, and the Doodlin will be take place Saturday, October 16. The Gee Gee Digger will find Mac Derrick T attempting a clean sweep for Rick Plano, while last week’s runner-up, Jeff The Builder, and the oft-claimed Little Box Out will loom as the main threats in what should be a very contentious affair.
The Doodlin is for the distaff blue-collar workers, and I Go Blind will be putting a four-race winning streak on the line when she suits up for trainer Greig Watson. She has shown she can win from behind, a stalking position, or racing up close and personal as she has in her victories in the opening two legs.
Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Thursday, October 14 and will continue through Saturday, October 16. Approximate first-race post time is 5:45 p.m. (PDT).
On Saturdays, Cal-Expo offers a reduced 15 per cent takeout rate on both the Early and Late Pick-4 wagers with both Pick-4s now having a $10,000 gross guaranteed pool.
(Cal-Expo)