Claiming pacers were featured at Cal-Expo on Thursday, June 3, a night on which Roger J scored in an upset.
Leaving a bit from Post 1 before yielding into the first turn for driver Anthony Succarotte, Roger J came away fourth into a fast :28 opening quarter.
"I was alright with the quarter because I was hoping that would result in me chasing tired horses down the stretch," said Succarotte.
Things would get even better for Succarotte and his charge when John Chappell made his second move with Fullback In Motion early in the second quarter, this time for the top, which they reached in an honest :56.4 -- all while Succarotte had good reason not to pull first-over at that juncture.
"I sat because his trainer Matius Ruiz asked me to try and race him second-over. Plus having cover off the fast half meant I'd have tired horses to chase in the lane as I had hoped."
Sliding out second-over past the nine-sixteenths-mile pole, the seven-year-old was now benefiting from very live cover provided by Jessalilpeace (driven by Jim Lackey), thus finding himself as well placed as could be at the three-quarter mile pole, timed in 1:27.2. Succarotte, however, wasn't quite as optimistic as the trip would make most think.
"I thought my horse was tired because he wasn't grabbing the bit anymore. But, I still thought my chances were good to be first, second, or third because other horses had been used, plus I didn’t feel anybody right on my back."
Left first-over to the head of the stretch, the gelding quickly made his way to the lead at the seven-eighths-mile marker with Macs Derrick T (Rick Plano) now gaining.
"He was still fighting down the stretch and once Macs Derrick T couldn't get to about a half of a length of me, I knew he wasn't going by me."
Holding firm down the lane while being driven, Roger J would go to win ($34.00) by one length. Owned by Williams Hernandez-Arriaga and Lauriano Alvarez-Davila, the Matius Ruiz-trained pacer stopped the timer at 1:56.1, a seasonal best. Macs Derrick T finished in second and Jessalilpeace finished another three-quarters of one length farther back, in third.
"He fought down the lane and raced good and better than the rest," Succarotte concluded.
Rick Plano drove six winners on the card, four of which were students from his own barn.
Live racing continues at Cal-Expo on Friday, June 4 at 6:00 p.m. (PDT) and on Saturday, June 5 at 6:20 p.m.
(Cal-Expo)