Officer Jim seeks to keep momentum going

Officer Jim (American Ideal), who has rattled off three straight harness racing wins including a sparkling score at the head of the class last week, looks to keep the momentum going in Saturday night’s $8,000 Open Pace at Cal Expo Harness.

There will be 11 races decided under the Wager and Wager LLC banner with first post set for 6:15 p.m.

Officer Jim is a 7-year-old owned by Debra McCarthy, takes his lessons from Michael Meza and will have his fourth different pilot in a row with James Kennedy handling the lines.

Stepping up to last week’s Open with Sean Smithpeters guiding, Officer Jim was able to lave into a pocket trip behind favored Unfiltered, tracked that one to the drive and then ignited when it counted to win going away by a length and three-quarters in a sizzling 1:51 4/5 tour.

In addition to Unfiltered, who will be looking for some revenge this week, the cast includes Chase The Gold, Firenado, Northbrook Ron, Dancin Lance and Keystone Tenacious.

Officer Jim giving Meza quite an experience

Michael Meza is off to a flying start as a trainer, with one of his two horses being the streaking pacer Officer Jim.

Claimed in January, Officer Jim has proceeded to win four of his five starts for owner Debra McCarthy, including last week’s Open Pace in which he toured the oval in a sizzling 1:51 4/5.

Interestingly, the Meza trainee has had three different drivers in those last three scores, and will have yet another pilot with James Kennedy taking over the controls for Saturday night’s headliner.

“It’s been a wild ride with this horse,” said 22-year-old Meza, who just took out his license at the start of the year. “His win on a sloppy track two back was fantastic, and last week Sean (Smithpeters) was able to work out a pocket trip behind the fastest horse, which is always nice.”

Meza’s father is a blacksmith, and he originally was a fan of the thoroughbreds, that is until a night several years ago when he got a ride in the starting car here at Cal Expo with the late Kenny Fowler.

“I was hooked on harness racing after that,” Meza said. “I got a great education working for Bob Johnson and then Edwin Quevado, and the timing seemed right to get my feet wet.”

So far so good, with Flying Officer eyeing four in a row in Saturday’s headliner in hopes of continuing that wild ride for Meza.

The main event is slotted as the sixth contest on the evening.

Looking ahead to Sunday night’s program, a pair of $20,000 Sire Stakes for the 4-year-old pacers will command the spotlight.

In the male division, Cenalta Hawk and JP Jetty have accounted for the first two stakes dances at the meet, while Give Me This Dance and Divine Art will continue their developing rivalry among the pacing mares.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Mark Ratzky, for Cal Expo Harness