Halleysbigcomet one to watch at Cal Expo

Halleysbigcomet (Huntsville), fresh from a smashing victory last weekend, looms an overwhelming favorite once again in Sunday night’s (Jan. 7) $15,700 Jack Williams Final for harness racing pacing fillies and mares.

The race will highlight a nine-race card presented by Watch and Wager LLC and things get underway at 4:45 p.m.

The Williams Final goes as the fourth race on the card and there will also be an $8,000 Open Pace that finds A Major Omen and Dancin Lance heading that cast.

Halleysbigcomet is a 4-year-old Ontario-bred who is owned by Nathalie Tremblay and David Kuri, takes her lessons from Tremblay and will have regular pilot Jake Cutting back in the sulky.

The bay miss started the meet with a conditioned victory on December 1 after coming in from Hawthorne, had a place and show finish in her next pair and then returned to the winner’s circle following last week’s Williams elimination.

Sent off at 1-2, there was never an anxious moment as she made every pole a winner and reported to the wire with two and a half-lengths to spare without being asked for her best.

Taking her on are Rockin The Dragon, What Cheer, Powderhouse, Polkdot Lady, Regil Irish and Rockin Sage

James Kennedy gets snapshot No. 1,500

When James Kennedy guided Lulu Hoop into the winner’s circle last week, it gave him a milestone 1,500th driving victory.

They say the first win is the toughest, but for James it was more like an ordeal.

“I didn’t get a win until my 168th drive,” Kennedy noted. “It was here in January of 2017 with Watch My Dream.

An obvious question would be did he ever get discouraged. “Never,” was the immediate answer.

James has certainly been making up for last time while establishing himself as one of the top pilots in California. .

As far as big wins, Kennedy points to the stakes victories with his trainees Jayslittlerockstar and Lil Hannah Sue as the most satisfying.

“If I had to name my best drive, I think it’s the night I just let Bettors Promise roll on the front end, he really flew and set a new mark.”

Onward and upward for Kennedy, who is scheduled to compete in eight of Sunday evening’s nine events.

by Mark Ratzky, for Cal Expo Harness