Itsabouttonight found the conditions of the Marvin Shapiro Pacing Series made to order, as she went coast to coast in last weekend’s opening leg for owner/trainer Gretchen Smith and driver Tim Maier.
It had been a while between drinks for the five-year-old mare, who recorded a 1:53.3 victory as a sophomore. Itsabouttonight made only four starts last year without a snapshot and was getting the job done for the first time in six appearances here this season.
Gretchen noted that both she and her pacer are Illinois-breds that joined forces late last year. “I bought her at the Delaware Sale in November and it’s funny how you can race so far from where you’re from and end up with a horse that was born and raised in your home state.
“It turns out that old trainer is also someone that I used to race with in Illinois and her previous trainer is good friends and partner with a friend from Illinois as well. It’s truly a small world and we are just two Illinois-born and raised girls who are far from home.”
Smith relates things did not go all that smoothly when Itsabouttonight first joined the barn. “I struggled with her when she first got here. She can be pretty strong in the bit and she didn’t want to rate very well.
“We made some minor equipment adjustments and finally she is racing like we hoped. Having a good driver like Tim Maier, who is patient and gets along well with her, certainly makes all the difference in the world. I am very thankful for his efforts with her.”
Itsabouttonight will be back in action in Saturday’s second leg of the Shapiro, which goes as the seventh race on the program. If all goes well, she should be a major player when the finale rolls around next week.
(Cal Expo)