James ‘Chip’ Lackey comes into this week’s action at Cal Expo with 3,524 wins and over $15 million in earnings, and the 64-year-old pilot has been adding nicely to those totals of late.
“It’s been a good year,” Lackey related. “I had to make a decision after the meet closed here (Cal Expo) last spring whether I was going to Minnesota or Chicago, and I decided on Chicago because I knew a good farm where I could take my horses.”
Lackey explained that for several years he stayed in California during the break in racing to take care of his ill mother, who passed away in September of 2014. He spent last year’s “summer vacation” in Pennsylvania and had a very good session at Hawthorne this summer.
“I don’t want this to come off the wrong way, but I’ve always taken care of myself and have confidence in my skills,” Chip explained. “I took four horses when I went to Chicago and they did well. I was very pleasantly surprised with the way the meet went.”
In addition to driving as much as possible, Lackey has a half-dozen performers under his care at Cal Expo and is due to have some more ship in shortly from Indiana. “I still love it,” he added.
Flameon, Silverlode Battle In Friday’s Main Event
Flameon and Silverlode, who have been trading punches at the head of the class, get another chance to settle the score in Friday night’s featured $6,000 Open Trot.
A 13-race card will be presented under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post set for 6:10 p.m. The headliner will go as the third event on the evening.
Flameon and Silverlode have been assigned the outside two posts in the field of six, respectively, with Chip Lackey once again guiding the former while Silverlode will again have the services of Luke Plano.
The hard-hitting pair have met twice at this young stand, with Silverlode going coast-to-coast in the October 29 Open and holding safe by a head, while Flameon prevailed by a neck after a first-over trip in the most recent top dance two weeks ago.
Flameon is a six-year-old son of Angus Hall who is owned by Mark Anderson and hails from the Gordie Graham barn, while Silverlode is Desomer Stables homebred daughter of British Sterling.
Rounding out the field, from the rail out, are the Kennedy Lindsey-conditioned Kickinitwithkohler; The Lehigh Legend from the Gene Vallandingham shedrow; the Sparky Clarke-trained Zoraze; and Windsun Galaxie, who takes his lessons from Lino Pacheco.
Saturday’s Open Pace Brings Out Windsong Jack
Windsong Jack, who nailed the wire in his most recent appearance at ‘the top rung’ after having carved out all the fractions, will head the cast for Saturday night’s $5,500 Open Pace.
The feature will go as Race 3 on the 12-dash program that is conducted by Watch and Watch LLC and will get underway at 6:10 p.m.
A six-year-old son of Santanna Blue Chip out of the Million Dollar Cam mare Milliondollarsmile, Windsong Jack is owned by Little Bapa LLC. He takes his lessons from Gene Vallandingham and will once again have Mooney Svendsen in the sulky on Saturday.
The dark-hued performer heads into Saturday’s race with $624,000 in his bank account and a sparkling 1:49.2 mark that was established two years ago. He was making his first start since July when he suited up at Cal Expo on November 12 with a pair of solid qualifiers under his belt.
Sent off the 4-5 favourite that night, Windsong Jack set all the pace in that affair and was collared on the wire by Just Bettor, who will not be participated in Saturday’s race. He will start from Post 3.
Barbarian was third behind Just Bettor and Windsong Jack in the most recent Open, and looms large for owner Robert Orr, trainer Sparky Clarke and pilot Tony Succarotte. He was an impressive winner at Cal Expo on opening weekend off of a stalking journey. He will start from Post 2.
The field is completed by Stable Eyes, who will start from the cozy rail slot for driver/trainer Tim Clevenger; American Venture, who calls the George Reider barn his home; and the James Kennedy reined-and-trained Im An Athlete, who is back up in class after a victory last week.
A pair of reduced, 16 per cent takeout wagers – the 50-cent Pick 5 and the 20-cent Pick 4 – is offered each night at Cal Expo.
(With files from Cal Expo)