Despite the race not shaping up for her, Jam And Jelly was still fastest of all.
Open 2 Handicap trotters were featured at Cal-Expo on Thursday, October 21, a night in which Jam And Jelly climbed a mountain.
Prior to starting from the outside Post 5, driver Luke Plano was confident, but knew in advance what the strategy was going to be.
"Even though my mare can leave and it appeared that Easter Call (driven by Rick Plano) was the only speed, I figured I'd take my chances from the back because Easter Call is pretty quick off the gate and I didn't want to deal with him early," stated Plano.
Coming away last while no one challenged Easter Call through first-half fractions of :29 and :58, the cover train didn't materialize until midway through the final turn with Jam And Jelly as the caboose while third over. Jam And Jelly was six lengths back at the three-quarter mile pole, which was timed in 1:27.2.
"It seemed like we were trotting a little bit at that point, but I didn't feel like I was making up much ground. For that reason I didn't think I'd be able to pick them up in the lane," Plano said.
Still last until finding a seam with an eighth of a mile to go, but still almost four lengths back, Plano called on his charge and was pleasantly surprised.
"When I urged her she gave me a little more -- more than I thought I had in the tank and started to pick up horses the more I asked her. With a sixteenth of a mile to go I knew it was going to be tight, but I had a lot of momentum and I thought I could get there."
Flying home with 110 yards to go, the only lady in the race just got up at the wire to win ($5.60) by a nose. Owned by Marlene and Rick Thomas in partnership with trainer George Reider, the six year-old stopped the timer at 1:57.1, thus recording her 24th career triumph. Easter Call just failed in a fine effort and had to settle for second, and the pocket-sitting Rompaway Brandon (Tim Maier) finished just three-quarters of one-length further back, in third.
"She once again surprised me because like I said I didn't think she be able to make up the ground, but she finished strongly for me and remains in top shape at the moment," finished Plano, who had a driving triple.
Live racing continues at Cal-Expo on Friday, October 22 at 5:40 p.m. (PDT) and Saturday, October 23 at 5:35 p.m.
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)