Sophomore ladies, on both gaits, were featured at Cal-Expo on Friday night, May 7 in two $15,000 divisions of California Sires Stakes
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In the first division, this for the trotters in a non-wagering event held prior to the card, Acapulco Gold had to dig down deep.
Leaving from the pole in the field of five for trainer Rocky Stidham, the filly was asked to accelerate into the first-turn to put Lily Of Lodi (Rick Plano) in the pocket into a :31.1 first quarter.
Getting an easy first half-mile of 1:03.1, Acapulco Gold received a challenge from Cash Creek (Tim Maier) past the five-eighths mile station, then had a lot more pressure from that foe at the three-quarter mile pole, timed in 1:34.1.
"I was really worried when Cash Creek pulled alongside of me because four starts back I followed her and she made a big move into the stretch," stated Stidham. "So I knew she had a kick to her and with the easy fractions, I knew she'd have just as much gas as I did."
Under urging and rebuffing the attack by Cash Creek, Acapulco Gold looked to hold firm past mid-stretch, but now Exquisite Gem (John Chappell) was flying with a sixteenth of a mile to go.
"At that point I said, 'Darn, I'm going to be second tonight,' because Exquisite Gem in every Sires Stake is right there at the finish. But I just kept on driving and my filly kept going forward and she had her nose in front at the wire."
Owned by Ben Kenney in partnership with Stidham, Acapulco Gold just lasted in a tight photo to win in 2:04.3. Exquisite Gem ran out of racetrack and had to settle for second, and Cash Creek was a very good third, just three-quarters of one-length farther back.
"Even though we went slow, I though it was a fantastic mile because she fought off two good horses in the stretch and showed me she wanted to be a winner, and she was," finished a proud Stidham.
Featured on the wagering card were the pacers, on which Upncoming Prospect was fastest of all.
Leaving from Post 5 in the field of eight for driver Steve Wiseman and finding a nice seat third after an eighth of a mile into a :29.3 opening quarter. The pair remained third through a first half-mile, timed in 1:00.2
Saving good ground until moving first-over to the three-quarter mile marker, timed in 1:30, Wiseman had good reason to be optimistic.
"I thought I had a really good shot from there because she had a lot of pace and she felt real strong," said Wiseman.
Racing with momentum to the top of the lane, then three-wide into the stretch as a result of the One Hot Tamale (Rick Plano) drifting out on the lead, Upncoming Prospect quickly moved into the lead past the seven-eighths mile pole, but soon had company with a sixteenth of a mile to go when So Relentless was coming on.
"I was a little worried about So Relentless (John Chappell) because she got a good trip behind me until I pulled and following is her type of trip. But I still thought I had it from there because my filly was still strong and we were pacing home pretty good...plus she responded right on when I urged her."
Owned and bred by Jack Coffey, the Bob Johnson trained lass actually drew clear late to win ($9.20) by 1-3/4-lengths, in 1:59. So Relentless finished in second, and One Hot Tamale finished another two-lengths farther back, in third.
"It was a very good race for her and she was awesome. Hopefully she'll be just as good for the finals in two weeks," concluded Wiseman.
(Cal-Expo)