Conditioned pacers were featured at Cal-Expo on Thursday, April 8, a night in which Television Star gave his foes no chance after getting his own way.
In advance of starting from Post 2 in the field of a half-dozen, trainer Rick Plano had positive and negative thoughts.
"He (Television Star) was dropping down in class and I thought he was the best," stated Plano. "But I was worried that I might have to be on the lead, which is where he doesn't want to be."
Coming away in the pocket as horses dropped into post-position order, Plano was left with no choice other than to call an audible after an eighth of a mile.
"I was forced to go to the front because they were going slow and I didn't like that I had to be on the lead, but I was going to go as slow as I could."
Making the lead after the quarter, timed in :30.1, Plano was feeling more upbeat at the half-mile marker, timed in 1:01.4.
"I felt better at the half because I went a very easy :31.3 second-quarter -- even though it was against the wind a little."
Giving his pacer some line urging at and past the half-mile juncture, Plano had good reason.
"He was going pretty darn slow so I got after him because we were walking and I wanted to get the pace going at some point."
Urged again past the five-eighths mile station, Plano was merely confirming what his horse already knew he was going to have to do.
"He heard Cycle Power (driven by Steve Wiseman) coming first-over and started pacing on."
Letting out a notch on his charge midway through the final-turn, Plano had no reason not to be optimistic while on top by one-length at the three-quarter mile pole, timed in a soft 1:31.3.
"He was pacing pretty strong at that point and I thought he was going to get home."
Drifting out a harmless path at the head of the stretch, the gelding stretched his lead to one and three-quarter lengths with an eighth of a mile to go.
"Halfway down the stretch he was pacing pretty fast and I figured with the calibre of horse that he is that they weren't going to catch him from anywhere behind me -- especially when you're coming home in :27.2."
Now under some urging in the final sixteenth of a mile when Red Star Ruffles (Sue Boyce) was closing, the four year-old went on and wasn't going to be caught. Bred and owned by the partnership of Alan Kirschenbaum and Sheldon Perry, Television Power won ($3.80) by one and a quarter lengths in 1:59. Red Star Ruffles was a good second, and Cycle Power finished another quarter of one-length farther back, in third.
"It was a good race for him because he won," finished Plano.
Live racing continues at Cal-Expo on Friday, April 9 and Saturday, April 10 at 5:35 p.m. (PDT). On Friday, carryover in the $1 Super High-5 (Race 10) is $7,963.23. Total estimated pool is $20,000.
(Cal-Expo)