Mares head Friday spotlight at Cal Expo Harness

Velocity McSweets (McArdle), coming off back-to-back solid tries in Open company, gets the top billing in Friday (Jan. 5) night’s $6,000 feature for harness racing pacing distaffers at Cal Expo Harness.

A nine-race card is on tap under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post set for 6:45 p.m.

Velocity McSweets is a 9-year-old mare who is owned and trained by Jennifer Sabot and will once again have James Kennedy at the controls from the cozy rail slot.

After coming in from Chicago, the bay miss rattled off two solid conditioned scores here to kick off the meet, on both occasions sitting back early and then making a big move past the half to get the job done.

Stepping up to the Open level for her last pair, Velocity McSweets has turned in big miles while finishing secod to Starrzznstripes and then third behind Graceful Horizon after being shuffled.

Taking her on Friday are Princessofthedawn with Nick Roland, Muffin Top, Mooney Svendsen; Bekkums Fancy Star, Jake Cutting; Wish I Had Thyme for Gerry Longo; Senga Nightmare, Ryan Grundy and Ain’t She Special for Luke Plano.

Looking ahead to Sunday night’s card, Halleysbigomet headlines the $15,700 Jack Williams Final for pacing fillies and mares.

Senga Nightmare continues to do her thing

After blowing by her rivals when it counted last week, Senga Nightmare (Vertical Horizon) has now posed for snapshots following half of her six appearances at the meet for owner/driver/trainer Ryan Grundy.

The newly turned 6-year-old mare has a pair of Sire Stakes trophies on her mantle from two years ago and is just shy of the $150,000 earnings plateau.

“I’ve had her since her first start up at Alberta and I guess you would just describe her as being workmanlike,” Grundy noted.

“When she got her for this meet she hadn’t been racing at her best and she was able to get into some softer spots and build up her confidence.”

Senga Nightmare has used a strong late kick to get the job done in her recent victories, but her mentor notes she doesn’t necessarily have to wait until the stretch to let loose.

“It’s been mostly the draw and the way things have worked out,” Grundy noted. “If you look at some of her other wins, though, you’ll see she can make a move to the lead at the half and keep going.”

Ryan also pointed out that the track up in Alberta is limestone and Senga Nightmare is much more at home over a dirt course like Cal Expo.

She’s certainly been driving him that point in her trio of victories at this stand.

by Mark Ratzky, for Cal Expo Harness