Sophomore ladies were featured on Friday night, April 23 at Cal-Expo in a pair of $15,000 California Sires Stakes
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In the first of the two events, this for the trotters in a non-wagering affair prior to the races, Acapulco Gold let it be known she's going to be a force to be reckoned with.
Leaving some for trainer Rocky Stidham from Post 5 in the field of the same number, the pair didn't tuck in fourth until the field had traveled just over 3/16ths of a mile into a :30 first-quarter.
Choosing not to pull second-over past the three-eighths mile pole to follow Betty Elizabeth (Gene Vallandingham), Acapulco Gold remained in fourth position at the half-mile pole, timed in 1:01.
With Betty Elizabeth clearing the lead past the 9/16ths mile marker that had belonged to Cash Creek (Tim Maier), Stidham soon pulled his charge first-over to the midway point of the final-turn, but "appeared" to be forced three-wide when Lily Of Lodi (Rick Plano) pulled with 5/16ths of a mile to go.
"Actually, Rick was pulling and I was following, but my filly, because she's green, kind of pulled herself three-wide more than I wanted," stated Stidham. "That concerned me because I didn't want to be three-wide."
Now moving nicely at the three-quarter mile station, timed in 1:31.2, Stidham, despite being 3-1/2-lengths from the lead, was optimistic.
"I felt pretty confident at the point we were going to catch and pass Betty Elizabeth because my filly felt really good and strong, and that told me she was going to do that."
Racing first-over late in the final turn and quickly closing the gap into the lane, Acapulco Gold brushed into the lead with an eighth of a mile to go and looked good until Exquisite Gem (John Chappell) made her presence felt with a sixteenth of a mile left to race.
"I was now very concerned because Exquisite Gem had closed and won the last Sires Stakes, and given that she appears to be a very good closer...I was concerned she could beat me."
Now under urging, but with the wire coming up, Acapulco Gold got the job done. Owned by Ben Kenney in partnership with Stidham, the filly won by a half of one-length, in 2:02.4, a lifetime best. Exquisite Gem finished in second, and Betty Elizabeth faded to third, another 6-1/4-lengths farther back.
"I've always felt good about her and always thought she'd be a nice horse. I'm very happy that she has come back very, very good and just have to hope she stays sound," finished Stidham.
Also featured were the pacing fillies and Upncoming Prospect had lady-luck on her side.
Parked for the lead for just under 3/16ths of a mile from Post 5 in the field of eight for driver Steve Wiseman, the pair yielded the lead to One Hot Tamale (Rick Plano) past the quarter-mile pole, timed in :28.2.
Sitting a pocket trip through middle-half fractions of :57.3 and 1:27.2, Wiseman was cautiously confident at the three-quarter mile pole.
"She felt real good right there and I was just sitting as long as I could," said Wiseman. "But with Just Plum Lucky [and Luke Plano] on my back...I figured the worst at that point I could be was second."
Moving first-over very late in the final-turn with the 3-2 favourite Just Plum Lucky tracking behind her, Upncoming Prospect caught a lucky "break."
"I figured something had happened because I heard a little commotion and figured Just Plum Lucky had run...which I confirmed when I looked back and saw she wasn't there. From there I figured I had a good shot to win."
With Just Plum Lucky now out of the picture after a nasty and very costly break in the upper-stretch that very easily could have cost her a win, the question was could Upncoming Prospect outlast a digging in One Hot Tamale.
"It came down to my horse and One Hot Tamale trying to outdo each other. Fortunately for me, my filly was able to grind out a win."
Getting up in very deep-stretch to win ($34.40) by three-quarters of one-length, the Jack Coffey bred and owned lass stopped the timer at 1:57.4, thus giving Wiseman the fourth of five driving triumphs. One Hot Tamale finished in second, and Gee Up (Etienne Desomer) finished 1-3/4-lengths farther back, in third.
"I got hit with the deck because Just Plum Lucky made a break, but my filly still held on for the victory and raced good," concluded Wiseman.
(Cal-Expo)