Graceful Horizon, who has rattled off four straight wins at the head of the class, looks to continue her dominance in the featured Distaff Open Pace on Sunday, Feb. 18 at Cal Expo.
Watch and Wager LLC will present 12 races and things get underway at 4:50 p.m. with the main event going as the fourth contest on the evening.
Graceful Horizon is a six-year-old daughter of Vertical Horizon out of the Camluck mare Gracie Montana who carries the banner of Set The Pace Racing LLC with Nick Roland doing the driving and training.
She started her streak on Dec. 29 with Chip Lackey in the sulky, using her patented late kick to post a 6-1 upset that night.
In the Jan. 12 Joe Alto, with Roland back at the controls, she was able to work out a perfect pocket journey and motored away in the drive to prevail by 2-3/4 lengths in a sharp 1:53.3 mile.
Last-minute heroics have got her to the winner’s circle in her last pair as she’s come from far back with a furious stretch charge to get the job done by a length and then a nose in her most recent outing two weeks ago.
Give Me This Dance was her most immediate victim in that last clash at the top rung and will be gunning for some revenge this weekend for owners Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte and conditioner Luke Plano.
Rounding out the field, from the rail out, are Starzznstripes, Aint She Special, Velocity McSweets and Crazy Cute.
A new adventure for Van Otterloo
Justin Van Otterloo is one of the new faces on the scene at Cal Expo, as the 27-year-old Iowa native has four side-wheelers under his care while also doing his share of catch-driving.
“My family goes back pretty far in harness racing in Iowa and it’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid,” explained Van Otterloo. “I learned quite a bit working with my family and some very sharp horsemen back home.”
Van Otterloo felt the time was right to try something different and California seemed like the right place.
“I actually just came out to catch drive, but then the opportunity came up for me to train some horses and I jumped at the chance.
“I have to say it’s great to be somewhere in the winter where there isn’t any snow and the people have been very nice.”
One of the adjustments Van Otterloo has had to make with his move is competing over a mile track.
“It’s certainly different than the half-mile and five-eighths tracks,” he related. “You have to get used to it and you have to be patient.”
(Cal Expo)