With sights set squarely on next month’s Lloyd Arnold Pace, Military Stratcom made his seasonal debut last week for owner-trainer Jennifer Sabot and scored a convincing length decision with Dave Siegel in the sulky.
A 16-time winner last season with a 1:51.2 standard, the eight-year-old pushed his career bankroll over the $356,000 mark while showing the way home over Cycle Power and stablemate P H Jackpot in that affair.
Military Stratcom, who returned from three and a half months on the bench to post the impressive victory at the head of the class last week, has the top billing in Saturday night’s featured $6,000 Open Pace at Cal Expo.
“I’m fortunate to have the confidence of Jen Sabot to put me up on a real 'Cadillac' like Military Stratcom,” Siegel related after the victory. “He is preparing for an Eastern campaign and Jen has done a great job in getting him ready.
“He is a wonderful horse to drive and a real pro. He’s perfectly mannered and has no flaws and it’s nice to get an opportunity to drive a horse as classy as he is. I am so grateful to get such a good mount.”
Siegel is also looking forward to competing in the eighth annual East-West Challenge, which will be conducted here on April 12 and 13. He will be joined on West squad by Karen Isbell, Richard Bertrand and Sue Boyce.
“Dean Spriggs and Michele Ruvola will be making return trips for the Eastern team,” Siegel noted. “Coming out for the first time are Bob Krivelin, who was 2012 Amateur Driver of the Year, and George Bonomo.”
If it’s anything like the previous seven East-West Challenges, it should be a lot of fun all the way around.
(With files from Cal Expo)