Two veterans combined to win the final race at Cal-Expo on Thursday, August 26, as 58-year-old Jim 'Chip' Lackey guided the 10-year-pacer Fearless Sahbra to a coast-to-coast score. For Lackey, it was victory No. 3,211 in his career with over $14 million banked.
Fearless Sahbra, who carries the banner of Michael Lugar and hails from the Brian Solden barn, was winning for the 48th time in 266 appearances and pushed his bankroll to $130,000 in the process.
“I’ve driven this horse several times over the years, and Brian has him as sharp right now as he’s ever been,” Lackey related. “He likes to be in front or at least near the lead, and I’ve learned that he’s much tougher when he can open up into the stretch, as opposed to going head to head.”
Fearless Sahbra had to settle for the exacta completion in his first two starts at this meet, but had the spotlight all to himself in that last mile as he cruised up front and came home with three lengths to spare.
“He raced well in those first two, but he caught a really sharp horse in Gee Gee Cyril Lee in both of those races,” he said. “This time around, we were able to get away with a real reasonable half-mile. I knew we had a couple of horses behind us who aren’t that great on the turns, so I tried to open up as much as I could turning for home and it all worked out.”
Lackey has been a fixture on the circuit for nearly four decades and was asked if he still gets the same kick out of adding to his victory total.
“It’s always fun to win a race,” he said without missing a beat. “For me, with everything that’s going on in my life right now, it’s actually very relaxing.”
We would love to put the same question to Fearless Sahbra, but that would obviously prove fruitless. Suffice it to say, his three starts at the meet indicate he’s also having a good time out there.
Beginning this week, every Saturday night will find a $10,000 guaranteed pool for the Late Pick 4, while both Pick 4s on the program will feature a reduced 15 per cent takeout.
Live racing resumes at Cal-Expo on Thursday, September 2 and continues through Saturday, September 4. Approximate first-race post time is 5:45 p.m. (PDT).
(Cal-Expo)