After two Sires Stakes this fall, there's no doubt who the current freshmen stars are in California
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Two year-old colts & geldings were featured on Saturday night (October 23) in a pair of non-wagering $15,000 California Sires Stakes held in advance of the betting card, on which Im So Sulky and Shamderock crushed their foes over a track listed as 'good.'
In the first division for the trotters, driver Steve Wiseman and Im So Sulky left from post-four in the field of the same number, but never really settled in third into the first turn. Did Wiseman have a reason for making a move to the top before the field had traveled 3-16ths of a mile?
"I just wanted to cut the mile myself and give him the best possible chance," said Wiseman.
Making the front well after an opening quarter timed in :31.3, Im So Sulky was well rated through middle-half fractions of 1:04 & 1:36.
Now drawing clear by three-lengths into the lane, the gelding poured it on.
"I asked him at the top of the lane and he did everything I asked him to do and was very strong in the stretch and through the finish."
Bred in part by owner/trainer Alan Anderson, Im So Sulky made it two for two in his career with another Sires Stakes win, this time in 2:06.1 with a whopping winning margin on 16-1/4-lengths. Final Chapter (Rich Wojcio) held on for second, and Lodi Nickolus (Pierre Girard) finished just a neck farther back, in third.
"It was a very good race for him, especially considering it was his first time on an off track," finished Wiseman.
In the second and final division, this for the pacers, Shamderock won his second in the last three, with both wins in the Sires Stakes.
Coming away in third from post-position four in the field of five for trainer Rick Plano, the pair remained in the three-hole through first half fractions of :28.4 & 1:00.
With the field now three-eighths of a mile from home, Plano could wait no longer and moved his charge to first-over position.
"It was like a cat and mouse game because we were each waiting to see who was going to make the second move," stated Plano, "So I decided it was going to be me."
Gaining to the three-quarter mile marker, then charging at the three-quarters, timed in 1:30.1, Plano knew one thing for sure about his move.
"By making the move, I had The Power Load (Steve Wiseman) trapped in the two-hole. So now I was hoping to collar Spoons (Lemoyne Svendsen).
Taking over the lead to the top of stretch, the gelding suddenly powered forward.
"He exploded when I kicked out the earplugs and ended up totally annihilating that field, and it surprised me that he blew them apart like that,” concluded Plano.
Opening up the lead at the seven-eighths mile pole, then expanding that lead to five-lengths at mid-stretch, Shamderock scooted away even more under urging to win by nine-lengths with pace to spare. Bred & owned by D & E Racing, the youngster stopped the timer at 1:59. The Power Load finished in second, and Spoons finished another three-quarters of one-length farther back, in third.
Featured on the wagering portion of the card was a $5,200 Open Handicap pace, on which Living It Up never looked back.
Leaving from post-five in the field of a half-dozen and cutting out fractions for trainer Rick Plano of :29.1, :59.1, and 1:28.3, the five year-old held on to win ($8.20) by a half of one-length. Entry-mate Cowboy Hanover (Tim Maier) finished in second, and Split Ticket (Luke Plano) had his four-race winning streak come to an end by virtue of finishing another 1-1/2-lengths farther back, in third.
"Some may say I rated him well, but he was actually going all that he could because the track was very deep," noted Plano. "He fought all the way to the wire and was able to beat the other half of my entry."
Live harness racing resumes at Cal-Expo on Thursday (October 28) and continues through Saturday (October 30). Now on Saturdays, Cal-Expo offers a reduced 15 percent takeout rate on both the Early & Late Pick-4 wagers with both Pick-4’s having a $10,000 gross guaranteed pool.
(Cal-Expo)