If Saturday night’s Sire Stakes clash for the two-year-old pacing fillies is anything like the first round of big-money action for this group three weeks ago, we’re in for quite a race.
Strings prevailed that evening by a nose over Show Runner, with Ranchera Linda another nose back in third. Trainer Gordie Graham is hoping the latter filly can turn in a similar effort this weekend as she makes her third trip to the post with Rich Wojcio handling the lines.
Ranchera Linda is one of nine performers that Graham conditions for longtime owner/breeder Frank Nevarez and the dark-hued daughter of Wicked Island has certainly displayed promise in her young career.
“To be honest, I thought she overachieved a little in that first stake, considering what she had showed us up to that point in the qualifiers,” Graham related. “The hope is that she’ll get better with racing. She has a tendency to get hot and Rich told me she was even more aggressive in her second start, so that’s something we’ll have to work on.
“Steve Wiseman spent a lot of time with the dam’s sire, Broadway Express, when he was with Joe Anderson, and he told me they tend to be hot. The good thing is, if there is anybody here who can get a horse to relax, it’s Rich. He’s great at keeping them quiet.”
Graham is quick to point out proof of Wojcio’s expertise in calming a horse with his multiple stakes-winning trotter Calzone.
“There is no way Calzone would have been anywhere near as productive without Rich in the sulky.”
Graham is hoping that their teaming can have the same results with Ranchera Linda, who has plenty of Sire Stakes opportunities coming her way.
This week’s schedule finds special daytime racing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Watch and Wager LLC meet at Cal Expo with a 2:35 p.m. first post. Friday’s program is highlighted by a conditioned trot featuring Chevie Balboa and The Goose and a trio of $10,000 California Sire Stakes, which will go as non-betting events.
Next week will find a special Wednesday (Dec. 26) card that gets underway at 5 p.m., followed by Friday and Saturday racing (Dec. 28 to 29) with a scheduled first post of 5:55 p.m.
(Cal Expo)