Due to his size and distinctive coat, Im Blue Too is hard to miss on the track and also looked pretty good taking pictures in the winner’s circle at Cal-Expo last weekend.
The nine-year-old gelding is owned and trained by Robin Clements and posted a 7-1 upset when he got the job done in that conditioned affair with Dean Magee doing the honours.
“He’s a blue roan just like his older brother Im So Blue and he’s a perfect horse in the barn with such fretful eyes,” Clements said. “For the giant horse that he is, he wouldn’t hurt a flea and is such a gentle soul.
“My groom Teresa calls him Boo Bear and he is a barn favourite, of course after Franky Provolone.”
Im Blue Too was sent to Running Aces this summer under the care of Tim and Denise Maier, but midway through that meet became sick and was shipped back to California.
“Blue came back training strong for this meet, but due to the Camp Fire and smoke I didn’t race him right away. He had a good tightener that led up to his win the other night.”
Clements was high in her praise for Magee, who guided her pacer to a perfect stalk-and-pounce journey. “I can’t say enough good things about Dean. He has driven my horses in the past at Running Aces and I was excited to hear he was coming out to Cal-Expo.
“He’s a top-notch driver with great instincts and will be a great asset to our driver’s room. He gave Blue the perfect drive and I look forward to teaming my horses up with him again and wish him a great meet.”
Alan Horowitz eliminations atop marquee
Two divisions of the Alan Horowitz eliminations head the Saturday night (Dec. 8) action at Cal-Expo, with Scary Harry and Magnifique heading their respective races.
The eliminations will go as the seventh and ninth events on an 11-race Watch and Wager LLC program with first post set for 6:15 p.m. Pacific time.
Scary Harry will be seeking his fourth straight victory while leaving the outside post in a field of nine in the first division. The six-year-old son of Sportswriter carries the banner of Kenneth Seastrom with Chip Lackey doing the driving and training.
Scary Harry has yet to be beaten to a pole in his trio of outings at this stand, going coast-to-coast in all three outings and never looking like a loser at mid-stretch while rewarding the chalk players on each occasion.
A 1:52 victor at Pompano last season, the Seastrom colour bearer actually started this year having to settle for minor awards in his first 27 trips to the post, but he is making up for lost time at this meeting with those dominating performances.
Magnifique looms large in the second division after having posted back-to-back solid efforts since coming in from Indiana. The seven-year-old Tell All mare is owned by Nikki Hudson with Luke Plano reining and training.
Magnifique tracked and attacked for a length score in her first start at the stand, then stepped up to the Fillies and Mares Open for last week’s assignment and was third in a blanket finish after having some traffic issues.
(Cal-Expo)