He was acting up behind the gate, he broke, he tried to lay down, he spotted the field eight lengths, and he went first-over. Did Twice The Ruckus still win? Did you have to ask?
A field of a half-dozen trotters, five in on a condition, one to be claimed, were featured at Cal Expo on Friday night (September 16) for a purse of $3,400, in which Twice The Ruckus was tons the best.
Prior to starting from post position four, driver James Kennedy had good reason to think he could win his third feature race in a row.
"I thought I had a fairly good chance to win off of his last performance when he closed nicely after having poor cover," said Kennedy.
With the starting-gate rolling and the nose of his charge right on the gate, Kennedy soon saw that nose drop down.
"His head was way too low and he tried to go under the gate when the gate sprang and made a break and was bouncing all over the place. I was leaving, but when he broke I had no choice but to holler, take back, and get him back on stride. I wasn't happy -- especially with him not acting right after the break, and I had to do everything to keep him on his feet because his head was so low."
Losing eight lengths on the miscue and down seven and a half lengths at the quarter-mile pole, timed in :30.1, Kennedy assumed the obvious.
"My thoughts were just to get him back in the race but I really didn't think I had any chance at that point."
With Steve Wiseman slowing down the pace with Giles L S Hanover, this was working to the advantage of Twice The Ruckus.
"The slow second-quarter helped him get back in the race and bravened him back up. When I pulled him first-over to the 7/16ths mile pole, that was an instinct move -- but I was just trying not to push him while at the same time hoping that Stevie [Wiseman] wouldn't step on the gas."
Now just four lengths off the lead at the half-mile juncture, timed in 1:01, Kennedy soon asked for some more speed from his seven year-old past the half. "I was just asking him to give me what he could give me and he responded well."
Being driven in the third-quarter like he was well meant, Twice The Ruckus found himself just a half length back at the three-quarter mile station, timed in 1:30.4. Was Kennedy, however, worried that the trip of his trotter would catch up with him?
"His trip taking its toll was a concern in my thoughts the entire mile. I was just hoping at that point that he'd still be strong when we straightened out."
Under urging into the lane and soon taking over a slim lead with an eighth of a mile to go, Kennedy went to work on his gelding.
"He kept trying hard and digging in down the stretch and he ended up racing pretty awesome considering the break."
Owned by Dave and Rob Hanass in partnership with trainer George Reider, Twice The Ruckus actually drew clear on the wire to score ($7) by one and a quarter lengths, in 2:00.1, thus recording his 21st triumph. Giles L S Hanover had to settle for second, and Dudis Angel (Lemoyne Svendsen) finished a half of one-length farther back, in third.
"I thought he was the best in that field and he proved that he was," finished Kennedy, who had a driving double.
On the Friday night card, driver Steve Wiseman recorded five wins for the second straight card, while Lemoyne Svendsen had a four-bagger.
(Cal Expo)