When Television Star shows up for work during Cal-Expo's Saturday, September 18 card for Rick Plano, it will be his first evening appearance since mid-June. The Little Steven homebred will head into the affair with 10 victories and 14 thirds from his 46 career outings.
The four-year-old Little Steven homebred carries the banner of Alan Kirschenbaum and Sheldon Perry, and appeared to have found his friends at this level when last seen at the conclusion of the previous stand.
“By the end of the meet, if you just open your eyes and watch the horses race, it’s pretty evident which ones need a rest, and Television Star was one of those,” said Kirschenbaum. “When a horse races for 10 months straight, the odds are pretty strong that they need some freshening, even if they have no glaring physical issues.
“I sent a few horses back east at the end of the last meet, and the ones who had had a little break during the year did well, but the ones who had raced straight through were disasters. Hopefully, I’ve learned that lesson for the last time and won’t make that mistake again.”
Television Star, who is out of the Beach Towel mare Starlit Strand, is another in a long line of Little Steven offspring that have frequented the winner’s circle over the years at Cal Expo. When last seen in action, he scored back-to-back wins before disappointing at even-money in his final start.
“Television Star really responded to the time off,” Kirschenbaum related. “He put on some weight, got the shine back to his coat, ate some green grass and enjoyed the care of my farm manager Shari Burns.
“She can do wonders with an animal in a month’s time, and I actually am optimistic that Television Star might return to the races and be a better performer than he was last year.”
I Smell 'Calzones!'
Calzone, who has dominated his rivals in three appearances during the current Cal-Expo meet, will look to extend his streak tonight at the California track. A five-year-old son of Yankee Glide out of Ahh Saundra, Calzone will come into his assignment having posed for pictures following 11 of his 19 trips to the post.
Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo tonight and will continue through Saturday, September 18. First-race post time tonight is 5:45 p.m. (PDT). First post on Friday, September 17 will be 6:20 p.m. Approximate first-race post time on Saturday is at 5:45 p.m.
On Saturdays, Cal-Expo will offer a reduced 15 per cent takeout rate on both the Early and Late Pick-4 wagers with the Late Pick-4 having a $10,000 gross guaranteed pool.
(With files from Cal-Expo)