He has faced his peers nine times over the last two years in added money competition and once again Shamderock dominated his foes
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Two $15,000 divisions of California Sires Stakes for sophomore colts and geldings were contested at Cal Expo on Saturday night (October 29), in which Shamderock and Im So Sulky were much the best.
In the division for the pacers, Shamderock and trainer Luke Plano left from Post 7 in the field of the same number and raced four-wide until gliding down to two-wide position into the first turn into a :28 opening quarter. Not getting the lead until the field was just short of 5/16ths of a mile; did Plano have to use his gelding?
"It was a fairly quick quarter and I was out for all of it and definitely used him a bit, but it didn't concern me because I thought he could handle it," stated Plano.
Controlling the tempo once on the point, Shamderock reach the half-mile marker, timed in :57, then soon was under whip tap urgings to the five-eighths mile pole where he responded, then was chased after and responded more at the midway point of the final turn.
Now leading by 2-1/2 lengths at the three-quarter mile station, timed in 1:26, then by three-lengths at the head of the lane, Plano encouraged his charge through the stretch and the issue was never in doubt. Bred and owned by D & E Racing, Incorporated, Shamderock won ($2.80) by 4-1/2 lengths, in 1:55. Millions (Scott Cisco) inherited second late to grab the place honours, while Live A Little (Lemoyne Svendsen), who made a place-costing break with a little more than a sixteenth of a mile to go, was another half of one-length back, in third.
"His gait hasn't been what we'd like it to be since he's returned from the east, but I made a few changes this week and it seemed to straighten him out quite a bit. All in all I was very happy with his effort. He raced very well and is a very nice horse," finished Plano, who had six winners on the 14-race card, of which the last four came in consecutive fashion.
In the stake for the trotters, held prior to the betting card in a non-wagering event, Im So Sulky flashed his freshman form.
Coming away third from post position three in the field of five for driver Steve Wiseman into a :30.2 opening stanza, Wiseman moved his gelding to the outside at the 5/16ths mile pole and had the lead well after 7/16ths of a mile into a 1:00.2 first-half. Opening up by 2-1/2 lengths past the half with Final Chapter (Rich Wojcio) in pursuit, that margin was down to 1-3/4 lengths at the three-quarter mile marker, timed in 1:31.2, with Final Chapter now on the move past the three-quarters.
"I saw him coming," said Wiseman. "But I still had a lot of horse, plus I hadn't pulled the earplugs yet."
Getting whip tap urging with 3/16ths of a mile to go when it "appeared" that Final Chapter could put a nose up, Im So Sulky would have none of that as he responded for his pilot and started to draw clear, then opened up from mid-stretch on. Bred in part by owner-trainer Alan Anderson, Im So Sulky won by 5-1/2 lengths. Final Chapter was easily second best, and Lodi Nickolus (Pierre Girard) finished 8-3/4 lengths farther back, in third.
"He was great tonight and raced just like he did when he was winning as a two-year-old," concluded Wiseman.
(Cal Expo)