Big Better Best certainly lived up to his name in his division of last week’s opening leg of the Bob Gordon Pacing Series at Cal Expo, doing the track-and-attack to perfection for pilot Dave Siegel.
The three-year-old son of Pro Bono Best goes about his business for owner Bernie Wolin and trainer Raul Escobedo, and was making his second Cal Expo appearance after shipping in from Indiana. He has now stamped himself as one of the pacers to beat when the series finale rolls around in two weeks.
Big Better Best did his work from the second tier in his local debut and finished fourth with Bruce Clarke handling the lines. With that effort under his belt, he made a nice move forward to get his picture taken last week while competing over a sloppy racetrack with Siegel at the helm.
“He was a little rough down the lane in that first start here,” Siegel explained. “Bruce made some suggestions and Raul and Bernie made some equipment tweaks during the week to eliminate the issue, which they did.
“The horse was racing better and better each week for Bernie at Indiana Downs, so it did not surprise me that he was up to the task last time, even with the tough rain and wind conditions and taking on so much air during the race. He’s a really nice horse to drive and I think he’ll continue to improve as he acclimates to the weather and the track.”
The Bob Gordon Series is named for the popular owner, trainer, breeder, driver and activist who was so important to harness racing in the Golden State for several decades.
“Bob Gordon is a legacy in California harness racing history,” Siegel noted. “While I did not know him well personally, it was an honour to win a race named for this Hall-of-Famer.”
A $6,000 Open Trot featuring the streaking Franky Provolone and a pair of $10,000 California Sire Stakes for two-year-olds are the main events on Friday night’s Watch and Wager LLC program at Cal Expo. The Open will go as the third on a 16-race card with a solid field set to face the starter, while the two Sire Stakes clashes will be non-wagering events decided prior to the regular program.
(Cal Expo)