California Sire Stakes rivalry continues Sunday

Ihopeurhappynow, fresh from a big upset; and Worthy Opponent, his most immediate victim in that contest as the heavy favorite, get another chance to settle the score in Sunday evening’s $15,000 California Sire Stakes for the 3-year-old harness racing pacing colts and geldings at Cal Expo Harness.

There will be 10 races presented under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with things getting underway at 5:45 p.m. The co-feature is a $7,700 Open Trot headed by Mandeville and Pridecrest.

Ihopeurhappynow is a homebred son of Kent’s On Nuke who races for Mark Anderson, takes his lessons from Gordie Graham and will once again have the services of James Kennedy.

After finishing a distant second to Worthy Opponent in his first two outings, Ihopeurhappy was able to turn the tables in the most resent stakes clash two weeks ago as he came first over into the heavy favorite in the final bend and prevailed by a half-length in a very game 1:55 1/5 mile.

Worthy Opponent, a two-time stakes victor, suffered his first career defeat in six starts in that most recent Sire Stakes, then returned last week to crush a conditioned group with the 1:54 4/5 clocking being just a tick off the mark he set in the March 6 Sire Stakes.

The Hi Ho Silverheel’s homebred is owned by Wayne and Rod Knittel, hails from the Bob Johnson barn and has usual pilot Mooney Svendsen in the bike as he guns for some stakes revenge.

Rounding out the cast are Night King with Nick Roland; Rosecoe P Coletrain, Luke Plano and Cenalta Hawk with Cordarius Stewart in the sulky.

Ihopeurhappy throws his hat in the ring

The 3-year-old pacing division has suddenly become much more contentious, with Ihopeurhappynow upsetting the previously unbeaten Worthy Opponent in the most recent stakes clash two weeks ago.

The pair get two more shots at a Sire Stakes trophy at this meeting, with the first of those match-ups set for Sunday evening.

Ihopeurhappynow is a homebred son of Kent’s On Nuke who carries the banner of Mark Anderson, hails from the Gordie Graham barn and has been driven in all three of his starts by James Kennedy.

The dark-hued performer had to settle for a distant second behind Worthy Opponent in his first two appearances but turned in a giant mile two weeks ago to hang a half-length decision on his 1-9 rival while touring the oval in a sharp 1:55 1/5.

“You could tell he had potential in those first two starts, there were just a few issues,” Kennedy noted.

“In that last mile he was able to behave himself and settle nicely. I have to say I was confident when we drew up to Worthy Opponent and he gave me a real nice finish.

“He’s just getting better and better with each start and I’m looking forward to driving him again.”

Can Ihopeurhappy outduel Worthy Opponent once more this weekend? Stay tuned.

By Mark Ratzky, for Cal Expo Harness