A pair of Open Paces will head the action Friday night (March 1) at Cal Expo, and barnmates Bettor Lady and Pancetta loom large in their respective events for owners Richard Morita and David Yamada and trainer Lino Pacheco.
A 12-race card is on tap under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post at 6:10 p.m. and there will also be trio of California Sires Stakes for four-year-olds which will be contested as non-betting events prior to the regular program.
Bettor Lady is heading in off of back-to-back 6-1 upset scores, the most recent of which came during in last week’s Filly and Mare Open. In that contest, James Kennedy was able to work out a pocket trip with the daughter of Bettors Delight, and she responded when the question was asked and was up by a nose.
Meanwhile, Pancetta just missed to the favoured King Of The Crop in last week’s Open Pace and will not have that rival to deal with this time around. The 10-year-old son of No Pan Intended will once again have Dean Magee doing the honours.
Bettor In The Bank rattled off four consecutive wins between January 25 and February 15, including two Open Pace scores, before checking in a close third in the most recent clash at the head of the class and deserves plenty of respect.
The long-fused nine-year-old goes about his business for Debra McCarthy with Gordie Graham training and James Kennedy in the sulky. He is looking to add to a $221,000 bank account with 1:51.3 standard that was established over the Cal Expo layout.
Icy Blue Scooter has gone some outstanding miles at this meet while racing at the highest level and helps make things very interesting from the outside post for driver/trainer Nate Sobey, who co-owns the son of Blue Burner with Diane Bertrand and Robert Gilhespy.
(With files from Cal Expo)