When Lino Pacheco saw Real Attitude surface in a $3,000 claimer last month, he dipped in and took the pacer for client Ronald Rettig-Zucchi. The result has been three trips to the winner’s circle from four appearances in the new barn.
Real Attitude is a 12-year-old son of Real Artist with over $400,000 on his card and a mark of 1:51.1. He continues to do good work under Pacheco’s direction. Last week’s score came with $5,000 company and he proved a punctual favourite in a 1:54.1 tour with Tim Maier at the controls.
“I like the older horses with back class,” Lino related when asked about the claim. “I was very happy when I got him back to the barn after the claim and he’s been very game in his races.”
After two impressive scores right off the bat under his new banner, including a first-over 1:53.2 tally on March 29, Real Attitude stepped up to face Open II rivals on April 4 and couldn’t match strides with a red-hot Hoboken Hanover that evening.
Wheeled back in a more realistic spot for his most recent assignment, the veteran pacer did the track-and-attack to perfection for Maier, prevailing by a neck to give his new owner and trainer another snapshot.
“We decided to take a chance and move him up for that Open II race, but it was a little too much for him,” Pacheco said. “When we brought him back for $5,000 last time, he was very game. That’s why I like these older class horses.”
This week finds the Rettig-Zucchi colourbearer suiting up for Saturday night’s sixth race with David Siegel in the sulky. Can he add another score for the Pacheco shedrow? Stay tuned.
Sharp Pacers, Trotters Clash In Co-Features
An Open II Trot headed by Franky Provolone and Winsom Kelly and an Open II Pace featuring Toucan Sam and Bettormeboy are among the highlights on Saturday evening’s Cal Expo program.
There will be nine races on the card, and first post on Cal Expo’s Saturday night programs will now be at 6:55 p.m. Through the end of the meet on May 3, purses have been increased by 10 per cent across the board.
Franky Provolone figures to get plenty of respect in the featured trot for owner Robin Clements, trainer Vickie Desomer and pilot Steve Wiseman. He comes into the assignment with $163,000 in his bank account and a 1:55.4 mark that was established last season at Running Aces.
The eight-year-old son of Armbro Scribe recorded his first victory of the year back on February 28. He returned to the winner’s circle last weekend. The Clements colourbearer made every pole a winning one in that affair with Tim Maier giving directions.
Winsom Kelly was third in that contest as the 9-5 choice and will be looking for some revenge for the combination of owners Nikki Hudson and KC Carvalho and driver/trainer Luke Plano. The veteran was a sharp winner at this level on March 21 in a rail-skimming performance.
Toucam Sam will be stepping up to the Open II level after registering a powerful 1:52.4 upset last weekend with conditioned rivals under Luke Plano’s guidance. The 12-year-old is owned and trained by Patricia Minnella and is now at the $600,000 earnings plateau with a sizzling 1:49.2 career standard.
Bettormeboy is coming off a third-place finish in last week’s Open I Pace and should hit very hard with this group. Richard Morita and Davida Yamada own the five-year-old with Lino Pachecho doing the training. He recorded his most recent score under these conditions on March 7.
(With files from Cal Expo)