Nutmegs Desire, who will suit up in Saturday night’s ninth race at Cal-Expo, recently recorded her 50th victory and, after a couple more starts, will begin her transition into her broodmare career.
A soon-to-be 11-year-old daughter of Real Desire, Nutmegs Desire is owned by the partnership of Don and Barbara Arnstine, Steve Chambers and Tyler Wiseman with Kathie Plested training and Steve Wiseman in the sulky.
She comes into this assignment with 50 wins from 231 starts along with 42 seconds, 29 thirds and $233,000 in her bank account. She sports a 1:53.1 lifetime mark that was established five years ago at Pocono Downs.
Nutmegs Desire reached the 50-win milestone at Cal-Expo on Dec. 8, going right to the front and then coming out of the fog to get the job done by a length and a half. She came back in her last start to miss score No. 51 by just a head.
Following that victory three weeks ago, members of the Cal Expo racing office were treated to a cake courtesy of the pacing mare and Barbara Arnstine.
“Nutmegs Desire is a horseman’s horse,” a proud Barbara said when asked about the bay 10-year-old mare. “She’s honest and consistent in effort, she’s a pleasure to have in the barn as long as you keep those carrots coming, and she helps keep the youngsters in line.”
Arnstine explained that some chronic injuries slowed her East Coast campaign and former California owner/trainer Gilbert Herrera sent her to Plested and Wiseman to finish up her career.
“In one of her last races at Running Aces this summer, as she was charging down the stretch to her 49th win, someone yelled out ‘Go on Grandma, you can do it’!
“No one told ‘Grandma’ this was a finish,” Barbara said. “Steve will tell you that when he tries to pull her up after a race. If you aren’t flying back to the winner’s circle, then she’s ready to go around again. Once you put that yellow hood on, she’s ready to work.”
In a few months, Nutmegs Desire will go from being a veteran racemare to a young broodmare.
“When the snows melt in Canada in early March, she’ll be on her way to having those babies that we will look forward to seeing,” Arnstine noted.
"Meanwhile, that yellow hood will keep pushing to the front, trying to win and prove a credit to the breed.”
Urgointohearmeroar and Lickcreek Speedway, who put on quite a show two weeks ago, get another chance to settle the score in Saturday night’s featured $8,400 Bill Conlin Pace.
Watch and Wager LLC will present an excellent 12-race card that gets underway at 6:10 p.m. In addition to the Conlin, there is a $7,000 Open Pace that finds I’m An Athlete seeking an encore and a $6,500 Filly and Mare Open Pace headed by the razor-sharp Capitol Hill.
Urgointohermeroar and Lickcreek Speedway finished one-two in the Dec. 14 Conlin Prep with Urgoinhearmeroar getting up by a head over the latter after that rival had opened a clear lead at midstretch.
Urgointohearmeroar, a three-year-old son of Mystery Chase owned by Mark Anderson, hails from the Gordie Graham barn and will once again have Mooney Svendsen driving.
He has accounted for three of his four appearances at this meet, lowering his lifetime standard to 1:54 in his most recent outing. Sent the 8-5 choice in that contest, he stalked to the lane and proved best at the line.
Lickcreek Speedway has a win and two seconds from her five trips to the post at this stand, with her victory coming in the Annette Funicello Prep on Dec. 7. She set her mark of 1:56.1 this year at Hoosier Park and competes for owner Jennifer Scarberry and driver-trainer James Kennedy.
Completing the field are Hay Hay Alright for Ryan Grundy; Just B Talking, Gerry Longo; Oh My Josh with Steve Wiseman; and Dancer’s Fancy, Dean Magee.
(With files from Cal-Expo)