Rockin With Lou heads Open Distaff Pace

Rockin With Lou, coming off three sparkling wins at the head of the class, looks to keep the momentum going in Friday night’s harness racing featured $6,500 Filly and Mare Open Pace at Cal Expo Harness.

Nine races are on tap, with the feature going as the fourth on the card and first post set for 6:45 p.m.

Rockin With Lou is a 5-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou out of the Rocknroll Hanover mare Ram Rocket who is owned, trained and driven by Gerry Longo. She comes into Friday evening’s assignment having won 19 of her 57 starts with $137,000 in her account and a 1:52 3/5 mark.

Longo’s performer established that standard when she captured the January 9 Distaff Open, coming from last to win going away that night. She came back the next week to once again rally from last while going clear at the end.

Sent off at 50 cents on the dollar for the most recent clash for this group two weeks ago, Rockin With Lou sat last early, came out with live cover behind Shesureissomething and overpowered that rival while once again going a snappy 1:52 3/5 mile.

Shesureissomething has had to settle for the exacta completion behind Rockin With Lou in their last two meetings, on both occasions doing her work in game, first-over fashion. Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte own, Rick Bertrand trains and Cordarius Stewart will once again be in the sulky.

Rounding out the field are Lifeisashortwalk for driver/trainer Nick Roland; the Kathie Plested-trained Changing Colors with Mooney Svendsen and Prom Queen for trainer Quentin Schneider and pilot James Kennedy.

Worthy Opponent looks stakes worthy

Bob Johnson unveiled a nice-looking 3-year-old pacer for Wayne and Rodney Knittel last weekend when Worthy Opponent got the job done at first asking with Mooney Svendsen in the sulky.

Sent off the 6-5 second choice in that affair off a solid qualifying score, Worthy Opponent stepped it up a notch by taking complete control of the contest with two moves to the lead at the half and went on to a six and a quarter-length romp.

The homebred gelding is by Hi Ho Silverheel’s, who passed away last year, out of the Dragon Again mare Mistup Magic, who also raced under Johnson’s care.

“This is a nice-looking horse and we’re getting him ready for the Sire Stakes races in a few weeks,” the trainer related after last Sunday night’s diploma earner.

“He had a good qualifier, but I was still a little surprised he raced that strong in his first start. Mooney said he drove really well, and it didn’t seem to him like they were going that fast, which is always a good sign.”

The Sire Stakes action for the 3-year-olds is set to begin on February 18, with a $7,500 contest for the colts and for the fillies followed by four $15,000 events for each division.

Johnson is hoping to have another Knittel homebred by Hi Ho Silverheel’s for the filly stakes in Toot Toot, who has a pair of qualifiers under her belt and is set to make her debut Friday night.

By Mark Ratzky, for Cal Expo Harness