Alberta native Jake Cutting (pictured above) has wrapped up the leading driver title at the Cal Expo meet, which ends this week with a Friday, May 3 program. Top training honours will go to local horseman Luke Plano.
Cutting is celebrating his first driving crown while Plano has won several titles in the sulky but is making his first appearance at the top of the trainer standings in Sacramento, California.
Cutting is a 23-year-old driver who scored the first win of his career in 2019 in Canada. Completing his first million-dollar year on the strength of a very impressive season at Running Aces in 2023, he got off to a fast start at this Cal Expo meet and never looked back, holding a 14-win advantage going into the final card.
“I came into this meet with a lot of confidence, but I can’t say I had any expectations,” related Cutting. “My dad [trainer Darryl Cutting] had some real nice horses and I want to thank all the trainers that gave me an opportunity.”
One of the highlights for Cutting was driving the pacer Kamara, who captured three straight Opens to establish himself as one of the top performers at this stand.
Plano has won countless driving titles at Cal Expo, but in the last few years has put more emphasis on his own barn and has had an outstanding meet with his trainees.
“In the past, I would have less than 10 horses of my own here, but this year, I had between 15 and 20, and along with my owners, we tried to come up with a nice balance," said Plano.
“It was gratifying that so many did well. Aint She Special was particularly satisfying because early in the meet she had some issues that we had to straighten out, but after that, she was super, and we were very proud of that 1:51 and change victory in the Open in March.
“Handsome Harvey, Jack Rabbit Slims and Bombay Hanover also raced strong here, and I was very happy with the development of Powderhouse and Hunky Dory, who were both non-winners of one when the meet started.”
(With files from Cal Expo)