Owner Wendi Wiener is thrilled when one of her horses wins, but when both of her starters ended up in the Cal Expo winner’s circle last Friday night she was over the moon
.
“I was speechless,” Wiener related. “That never happens.”
Wiener's homebred six-year-old pride and joy mare Bewareofthisaffair accounted for the seventh race on the card with Lemoyne “Mooney” Svendsen at the controls in a lifetime-best 1:55.3 clocking, while Arch Nemeses prevailed in the 13th event on the evening with Steve Wiseman giving directions for trainer and co-owner Nathalie Tremblay.
Bewareofthisaffair’s tally was bittersweet, as her dam Sanananna passed away two weeks earlier.
“Having 'BB Bug' [Bewareofthisaffair] win is very important, as we lost her mom on March 14,” said Weiner. “She was just about to turn 19 and much more than a broodmare to us. It was almost like she was out there with 'BB Bug' and helping give a little closure to a very difficult time.
“It was also a new lifetime mark for her, and I want to thank Mooney for use of the Tweety yellow bike. It was an amazing race and I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
It was a bit later on Friday evening that the Wiener-Tremblay combination teamed up with the Artsplace gelding Arch Nemeses and he clicked in game fashion.
“'Archie' found himself again,” his co-owner explained. “He’s had lots of bad luck in his races lately, but he was no taking no prisoners this time. Thank you Steve!”
As far as Tremblay is concerned, Wiener made it clear this is much more than an owner-trainer relationship.
“I consider the horses to be my kids, and Nat takes care of each one of them like they are the best. She’s also a wonderful person and it seems like we’ve been friends forever.
“This may be a business, but there is a lot more to it than just the racing. The horses know when they are loved and they give back 100 per cent when that happens. Trained perfect and loved perfect go hand in hand. I also want to recognize the great help Nat has with Dave Kuri, John (Stretch) Hagan and Chuck Johnson at the barn.”
(With files from Cal Expo)