The lead was soft, he had no challengers, and Putoneonnetformom easily made it three wins in a row
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Winners Over trotters, racing for a purse of $4,500, were featured at Cal Expo on Saturday night (February 4), in which Putoneonnetformom was well rated to his 21st career victory.
Leaving nicely from his assigned Post 4 in the field of five, and with no other leavers, driver James Kennedy was able to take a hold of his charge after a sixteenth of a mile while obtaining the lead just before the field entered the first turn. Already setting a sensible pace while under a hold, the eight-year-old reached the quarter-mile pole, timed in an easy :30 seconds. Still under a hold and fairly anxious in the second quarter, Kennedy obliged his trotter.
"Coming to the half I was just trying to get him geared up by shaking the lines a little bit and yelling a little bit," said Kennedy. "I was doing this because I wanted him geared up for the third quarter because it takes a little while to rev him up, plus with Meringue [and driver Luke Plano] behind me, if I could make him have to work in the third quarter, then that would work to my advantage."
Yet to take a deep breath while on the final turn and still under a grip, Kennedy let out a notch past the five-eighths mile station.
"I was trying to get away from everybody and he responded well when I asked."
Starting to expand his lead midway through the final turn, the gelding trotted an effortless :28.3 third quarter while reaching the three-quarter mile marker on top by two and three-quarter lengths, timed in 1:28.2.
"I knew I pretty much had it in the bag at that point because it seemed like I had a lot of horse left, I was getting away from the field, plus I hadn't popped the earplugs yet. Then when I did pop them late in the turn he was awesome."
Continuing to march on in the lane, Kennedy was basically along for the ride.
"He was very responsive in the lane and all I was doing was hollering at him. As a matter of fact, he was more responsive this week -- even more than last week -- and last week I thought it was the best he had been in a while."
Bred and owned by Jeff, Gerald and Diana Cimini, the Rocky Stidham-trained trotter cruised to a very easy three length triumph ($3), in 1:57.4, equalling a seasonal best. Meringue finished in second, and Giles L S Hanover (Steve Wiseman) finished two-lengths farther back, in third.
"He's really on his game now and raced awesome. My thanks again to the connections for the opportunity to drive him, I appreciate it," concluded Kennedy.
(Cal Expo)