Freshmen Colts & Geldings were featured in a pair of $15,000 California sires Stakes, on which Im So Sulky and Shamderock continued their superiority
.
In the first of the two non-betting races held in advance of the wagering card, this for the trotters, Im So Sulky made it three for three in his young career and all in Sires Stakes.
Leaving from post-four in the field of the same number and getting into the pocket just after the field had traveled an eighth of a mile, driver Steve Wiseman made a 3-16ths mile move with his gelding and eventually cleared to the lead after a :31.3 first-quarter.
Cutting out middle-half fractions of 1:02.4 & 1:34.4, Wiseman only had to resort to one urge of his charge at mid-stretch before resting his whip on the back of his trotter while on the way to a one-length triumph. Bred in part by owner/trainer Alan Anderson, Im So Sulky stopped the timer at 2:04.4. Final Chapter (Rich Wojcio) was clearly second best, and a distant Tangled Web (Steve Desomer) finished 18-3/4-lengths farther back, in third.
"He trotted home :30 seconds into a headwind which made it a little tougher and he raced very good. It was a very good race for him," said Wiseman.
In the second and final division for the pacers, Shamderock clobbered another Sires Stakes field.
Coming away in third position from post-three in the field of five for trainer Rick Plano through first-half fractions of :30 & 1:00, Plano moved his gelding first-over past the five-eighths mile pole, then had his youngster moving nicely midway through the final turn into a 1:28.3 three-quarters.
Powering into the lead late in the final turn, Shamderock poured it on in the lane to win in romping fashion by 11-3/4-lengths in 1:56.3, a lifetime best. Bred & owned by D & E Racing, Shamderock has now won his last two races by a whopping total of 20 lengths. Spoons (Lemoyne Svendsen) finished in second and The Power Load (Steve Wiseman) finished another 1-1/4-lengths back, in third.
"I got away third, when I had to move him I moved him, and he'd just cruise down the stretch," noted Plano. "It was a stroll in the park for him and a pretty simple mile. At this point in time he's just better than the other two year-olds."
Featured on the wagering card was the $7,350 Desmond Pacing Series Final on which Macs Derrick T gamely upset.
Firing out from post-position five in the field of seven for driver Ralph Silvestri III, the pair found themselves three-wide the first eighth of a mile plus before getting the lead past a tough :27.2 opening quarter.
Getting a rated :30 second-quarter breather while reaching the half-mile marker in :57.2, Silvestri III popped the earplugs of his nine year-old past the half and chased after his pacer through most of the final-turn while reaching the three-quarter mile station, timed in 1:25.2.
Under urging at the head of the lane and headed by the pocket sitting False Accusations (James Kennedy) with less than 3-16ths of a mile to go, Silvestri III continued to urge his pacer on and the gelding refused to give way, then came back to the wire to win ($34.20) by a head. Owned by trainer Christopher Landy, Macs Derrick T paced to a winning mile of 1:54.4, his 25th career victory. False Accusations had to settle for the place honors and Shoot The Works (Rick Plano) finished three-quarters of one-length farther back, in third.
Open Handicap pacers raced for a purse of $5,200, on which Split Ticket was way too tough.
Leaving to come away in fourth from post-position five in the field of five for driver Luke Plano, the pair made a move to the lead to the quarter-pole, timed in :27.3, then obtained the lead to the 7-16ths mile marker into a :55.2 first-half mile.
Opening up midway through the final turn into a 1:23.3 three-quarters, the six year-old paced away in the stretch to win ($3.40) by three-lengths. Owned by Richard Morita, David Yamada and David Ohara, the Liberio Pacheco trained gelding stopped the timer at 1:52, thus recording his 32nd career win. Ultimate Desire (Lemoyne Svendsen) finished with a lot of pace to close the margin late and finish in second, and Cowboy Hanover (Tim Maier) finished 4-1/2-lengths back, in third.
Live harness racing resumes at Cal Expo on Thursday (November 11) and continues through Saturday (November 13). Approximate first-race post-time is 5:45 p.m. (PDT). On Thursday and every live card, Cal Expo offers free admission, as well as free preferred & general parking after 4:30 p.m. Also on Thursday night from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Cal Expo offers a complete Lasagna dinner, which includes salad and bread, for just $3.00. Additionally on Thursday, beer & wine can be purchased for $3.00 each as well. Carryover in the .50 minimum Pick-5 is $2,504.32.
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)