A track bias which clearly favoured closers had no bearing on Gee Gee Cyril Lee from wiring a field for his seventh straight win Thursday night at Cal-Expo. The mile proved to be the fastest paced mile of the young summer/fall/winter meet.
Before starting from Post 2 in the field of a half-dozen, driver Luke Plano had taken a good look at the program.
"I knew there was a lot of speed in there and I didn't want to rough my horse up too much in the early going," said Plano. "So I was going to sort of watch behind the gate to see what everyone else was going."
With the field sent on their way, Plano got the first of a couple surprises.
"There was nobody really on the gate, so I opted to go to Plan 'A,' which was to go right to the front."
Getting the lead an eighth of a mile past the start, Plano and Gee Gee Cyril Lee reached the quarter-mile pole, timed in a quick :28.1.
"We went a touch more than maybe I wanted to go, but he did it comfortably, so I wasn't really concerned at that point."
Pacing an easier second quarter into a :57.3 first-half, Plano soon urged his gelding some at the five-eighths mile station, then urged him more and popped the earplugs to the midway point of the final turn when Grandpa Stevie (driven by Rich Wojcio) pocket pulled. Did this move surprise the young Plano?
"Yeah, I figured Rich (Wojcio) would stay in a little longer and stay on my back after what happened last week when he pocket pulled at the three-quarters and got by me, but then I was able to come back. As a result, I asked my horse to pick it up as I didn't want to get headed like I did last week."
Digging in quickly this week and meeting the challenge of Grandpa Stevie to the three-quarter mile marker, timed in 1:26.2, Plano knew one thing for sure.
"I didn't know where everybody else was, but I knew my horse still felt awfully strong."
Edging clear into the stretch and under urging, there would be no catching the pacer.
"When we got into the lane I really asked him to get into gear and he responded strongly and paced away a little bit when I asked. He may have slowed down a tiny bit near the wire, but it was deserving because it was a strong mile for him," finished Plano.
Clearing holding firm, the tough to beat four year-old won by one and three-quarter lengths. Bred and owned by Lee and Arlene Gellerman, in partnership with Cyril and Lola Green, the pacer stopped the timer at 1:54.4, a seasonal best. Grandpa Stevie was second best once again, and Hanover D G (James Kennedy) finished another one and three-quarter lengths farther back, in third.
For Luke Plano, the victory was the middle portion of a consecutive driving triple. It also marked the fifth straight card in which Plano has recorded as least three wins (18). Additionally, it marked the seventh straight program in which Plano has won at least twice on a card.
Live racing continues at Cal-Expo on Friday, September 3 at 7:10 p.m. (PDT) and Saturday, September 4 at 6:50 p.m.
Beginning this Saturday and every Saturday to follow, Cal-Expo will offer a reduced 15 per cent takeout rate on both the Early and Late Pick-4 wagers. Additionally, the Late Pick-4 will have a $10,000 gross guaranteed pool.
(Cal-Expo)