The tempo forced a strategy change, but Calzone was up to the challenge once again
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Open 2 Handicap Trotters, racing for a $5,200 purse, were featured at Cal-Expo on Friday night (September 3), in which Calzone showed his durability.
Prior to starting from his assigned post-five in the field of the same number, was driver Rich Wojcio concerned that his charge had been off two weeks?
"There was just a little concern that he might be a little more aggressive than usual," stated Wojcio. "But I obviously thought he had a very good chance."
Coming away last into a first-quarter that would come up in a very deliberate :31, Wojcio's hand was forced.
"I honestly didn't want to make the move to the front because since I've been driving him I've been trying to teach him to relax. But I was in trouble back there going that slow so I moved him to the lead with the hopes that he wouldn't get to aggressive once we got there."
On the move just after 3/16ths of a mile, the five-year-old cleared to the point to the 7/16ths mile marker. Did Wojcio have to use his horse?
"No, it was a very controlled move."
Reaching the half-mile juncture, timed in 1:01.3, Wojcio was pleased.
"He came back to me which was very important and very good. I knew it would turn into a sprint, but I was very happy that he relaxed because that ended up being the difference whether he'd win or lose because I thought if he didn't relax in the third-quarter that that quarter would have been a lot quicker and he would have possibly gotten tired."
Getting rated in the third split, Calzone reached the three-quarter mile station, timed in 1:31.4.
"I continued to be happy that he relaxed and handled being on the lead well. I thought at that point he'd be very tough to beat."
Getting shown the whip to the top of the lane, the gelding went on while drifting slightly into the two-path, then drifted out a bit more at the seven-eighths mile pole, but with a two-length advantage.
"He didn't run out as bad as two weeks ago when he was probably about eight-wide," chuckled Wojcio.
With Wojcio keeping the whip in the air, Calzone kept to business.
"He was trotting strongly while very good gaited through the stretch, but I don't think he knows where the wire is yet. And even though I didn't think I was going to get beat, I showed him the whip because he's facing older horses that I respect and I wanted to let him know that he needed to keep to the task, which he was, as he was as about as good as you'd want him to be through the wire."
Bred, owned and trained by Gordie Graham, Calzone won ($2.40) by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:59.4. Meringue (Tim Maier) sat the pocket to Calzone and finished second with trot. Berkshire (Steve Wiseman) finished another 2-1/4 lengths farther back in third while also having trot at the wire.
"I'm very happy that's he learning that he has to be more handy, which I thought he handled very well, especially with the week off and with the track not favouring speed. It was just another continuous fine job by Gordie and the horse. They show up every week," finished Wojcio.
Beginning Saturday, September 4 and every Saturday to follow, Cal-Expo will offer a reduced 15 percent takeout rate on both the Early and Late Pick-4 wagers. Carryover in the Early Pick-4 (Races 2-5) is $3,991.35. Estimated total pool is $12,500. Additionally, the Late Pick-4 (Races 8-11) will have a $10,000 gross guaranteed pool. Also on Saturday, carryover in the .50-cent Pick-5 is $1,453.53.
(Cal Expo)