Help Page heads Cal Expo Open Trot

Help Page (Helpisontheway), who made 8-1 look like easy money in the most recent top dance for the trotters, goes from the rail to the demanding 10 post in Saturday night’s harness racing featured $8,800 Open Trot at Cal Expo Harness.

There are nine races on tap under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post of 6:55 p.m.

The Open Trot will go as the seventh race on the card while the Jack Williams elmination for pacing fillies and mares will occupy the fourth race slot on the evening.

A 3-year-old, Help Page needed a couple of starts before hitting his best stride after coming in from Hoosier Park but is definitely on his game now for owner Gretchen Smith, trainer Alexis Kehl and pilot Sean Smithpeters.

After troubled trips in his first two starts at the meet, Help Page left from the rail in the Open Trot two weeks ago and went off at double his 4-1 morning line odds.

He tracked pace-setting Body Armor to the half, was out to engage that rival to the second turn and was very powerful through the lane to prevail by two and three-quarter lengths that evening.

Taking him on, from the rail out: Silverhill Volo, Serene Hall, Louis, Daytona Dreamin, Dylan The Great, Peter’s Royalty, Pridecrest, Mandeville and Body Armor.

SMITH FINDS TROTTER WITH RIGHT STUFF

Help Page could not have been more impressive in the most recent Open Trot, doing his work in first-over fashion and drawing away by two and three-quarter lengths for pilot Sean Smithpeters.

It was the third local appearance for the Midwest import, who races for Sean’s mother Gretchen Smith and hails from the Alexia Kehl barn.

“I bought him at the Blooded Horse Sale in November after his last Hoosier start,” Gretchen related when asked about the sidewheeler.

“I was looking for a trotter to fit a mile track and I knew I couldn’t afford most of them, but he was actually the cheapest of those and I got him.”

After last week’s dominating score, that looks like it might turn out to a bargain $35,000 for a trotter who is just finishing up his 3-year-old campaign.

Not that things didn’t start out a little rocky, as Help Page had traffic issues in his first start here and then made a break and spotted his rivals some 23 lengths before rallying for third at next asking.

“He can get a little hot under the collar, but he’s settling down now, and his last race was outstanding. Sean did a great job and I was proud of him.”

Things get much trickier for the Kehl trainee as he goes from the cozy rail to 10 post, but he certainly proved he belongs with the best on the grounds in that last tour.

by Mark Ratzky, for Cal Expo Harness