Three-year-olds, on both the trot and pace, were featured at Cal Expo on Saturday night in two $12,000 California Sires Stakes, in which Rite After Disbeer and Ra Ra Steven were the best again
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In the first of the two non-wagering events held prior to the betting card, Rite After Disbeer completed a sweep of the four spring stakes. Leaving from post five in the field of six and racing three-wide until the field entered the first turn, driver Luke Plano had a good reason for bypassing a seat fourth.
"The horses to beat were El Azteca [driven by Rich Wojcio] and Loose Cannon [with Steve Wiseman], and if I got away fourth, they were going to sit one-two, which means they may have gotten their own way and would have put me first over," stated Plano. "So I figured since we weren't going much I would head to the front and see what happened."
Racing with early cover into a :31.1 first quarter until being left first over well past the quarter-pole, the colt didn't clear to the front until a good ways past the 5/16ths. Was the lead tough?
"Even though it was a good ways into the second quarter until I got the lead, I didn't use him that much because we weren't going that much, plus he felt comfortable."
Reaching the half-mile juncture, timed in 1:02.1, Plano knew if he did what was needed that it would work to his advantage.
"I had El Azteca, who was the horse to beat, on my back so I was rating my horse to the best of my ability hoping to turn it into a sprint. I thought I'd be tough from there because I was getting my own way."
Trotting a bit rank to the five-eighths mile station, but with no ill-affect, Plano soon had company when El Azteca pocket pulled past the five-eighths.
"I was a bit surprised that he pulled; I thought it was a bit early. Having said that, the horse did get locked in two weeks ago in the sires stakes and was loaded. So I figured Wojcio wasn't taking that chance."
Reaching the three-quarter mile pole, timed in 1:33.2, Plano knew what his trotter had, but was unsure of his stalker.
"My horse still felt strong, but I thought El Azteca was in good shape where he was and I didn't know how much he had."
Drawing clear with 3/16ths of a mile to go and more so at the seven-eighths mile marker, the sophomore poured it on from there and there'd be no catching him while not urged much.
"When we got in the lane and we straightened up, my trotter took right off and responded well when I showed him the whip and he trotted right away."
Bred and owned by Mary Harris, the Kennedy Lindsey-trained charge won by two and three-quarter lengths in 2:02.1. Loose Cannon finished in second and El Azteca finished a quarter of one length farther back in third.
"He raced well, he's sharp, he has been sharp all along, and if he minds his manners, he'll have a bright future," concluded Plano, who had four winners on the card.
In the division for the pacers, Ra Ra Steven won his second straight sires stake. Coming away third from post one in the field of five, driver Rich Wojcio moved his gelding to the outside after 3/16ths of a mile into a :29 opening-quarter, then eventually cleared the lead past the three-eighths mile station. Did he use his pacer?
"No I didn't, it was a nice lead."
Reaching the half-mile pole, timed in :58, Wojcio soon opened up his charge at the five-eighths mile juncture, then would reach the three-quarter mile marker five and a half lengths to the good while pacing an effortless :28.1 third quarter into a 1:26.1 three-quarters.
"At the three-quarter, he felt very strong and I thought he'd be very tough to catch."
Under urging in the stretch, the son of Little Steven-Ra Ra Rosa wouldn’t be caught despite That Spice (Luke Plano) narrowing the gap late. Bred in part by Billie Schwartz in partnership with Dave Rachford and trainer Jim Wilkinson Jr., Ra Ra Steven scored by one and three-quarter lengths in 1:56.1. That Space was clearly second-best, and Looks Dont Count (James Kennedy) finished 11-1/4 lengths farther back in third.
"He was very strong tonight and Junior [with driver Jim Wilkinson] had him at the top of his game. I'm grateful to drive him and was happy for the connections because they were all here tonight to watch him. They're good people," finished Wojcio.
(Cal Expo)