Sire Stakes highlights Cal Expo card

A $20,000 California Sire Stakes for the 3-year-old pacing fillies headed by Mare A Raeann (Fancy Schmansy) and an Open Pace that finds Its Pointless eyeing his fourth straight harness racing victory are the featured events on Friday evening’s Cal Expo program

Nine races are on tap under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with things getting underway at 6:45 p.m.

Mare a Raeann is a daughter of Fancy Schmansy who is owned and trained by Jose Castillo and has James Kennedy in the sulky.

She was sent off at 15-1 in the first Sire Stakes of the season for this group, but won like odds-on as she came first-over to the final turn, took command in deep stretch and was a length and a half clear at the wire.

Skooch’s Valentine was the 1-9 choice that evening but had to settle for the place money after following Mare a Raeann to the drive.

She will be gunning for some revenge for owner/breeder Ronald Rettig-Zucchi, trainer Jessie Pacheco and pilot Luke Plano.

Completing the field are DM Magic Player, Miss Street Dancer and Miss Josie Forces.

Saturday night, the $12,500 Rod Knittel DHA Free-for-All for pacing fillies and mares will find Graceful Horizon heading the cast, while The Minnesota Kid has top billing in the Sire Stakes for the 3-year-old pacing males.

For complete race entries, click here: US Trotting entries.

Overthemoonforyou continues to sparkle

Make that nine wins from 10 starts at the meet and a pair of Sire Stakes trophies for the streaking 4-year-old pacing mare Overthemoonforyou.

The daughter of Karpathian Kid came into this session with just a pair of snapshots from her first 24 trips to the post, but has been  sensational since arriving in California for owner Qks Racing, trainer Quentin Schneider and pilot Aaron Lehman.

To give you some idea what expectations where back in December, she was sent off at 45-1 on opening night before making short work of the competition and hasn’t let up since.

Last Friday night’s coast-to-coast score earned her a second straight Sire Stakes victory and Lehman took things into his own hands that evening by going right to the front and improving her position.

“She’s been unexpected and awesome,” Lehman declared.

Among the 4-year-old pacing males, it was Alien Art Form who was taking bows after the Sire Stakes for owner/trainer/driver Ryan Grundy.

The son of Outrageous Art flattened out after a first-over trip as the favorite in the first stakes dance of the season, but made amends last week with a strong finish to get the job done over Search And Destroy, who has been runner-up in both these events.

by Mark Ratzky, for Cal Expo Harness