California Sire Stakes action at Cal Expo

A pair of $20,000 California Sire Stakes for 3-year-old harness racing pacers are the main attractions Sunday evening at Cal Expo Harness, with Another Tuff Woman (Wind Me Up) and Celebrity Status (Vlos) getting top billing.

There are 13 races under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post set for 5:35 p.m.

Another Tuff Woman is a homebred filly who races for Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte, is conditioned by Jose Castillo and will once again be guided by James Kennedy. She has been the easiest kind of winner in the first two stakes’ events for the sophomore fillies.

Set to line up against her are Little Miss Boss, TJB Secreharriet, Positivement Magic, Karpathian Jewel and Suddenly Famous.

Celebrity Status has proven to be a punctual odds-on favorite in the initial two stakes dances for the males while racing for Set The Pacing Racing LLC and driver/trainer Nick Roland.

In the February 16 contest he tracked to the far turn, he was out and moving at the leaders turning for home and was a handy two and three-quarter length victor. In the last Sire Stakes on March 10, he brushed to the lead down the backside and took complete control of things.

Taking him on are Fiery Conclusion, All Star Wonder, Getoff The Hose T, Bro Hug, Karpathian Nights, Say So’s Wind Up, Down Goes Frazier and Alien Art Form.

Another Tuff Woman, Celebrity Status in spotlight

Celebrity Status and Another Tuff Woman, who has dominated their respective 3-year-old Sire Stakes at this meet, attempt to add another trophy to the case this weekend.

Celebrity Status races for Set The Pace Racing LLC with Nick Roland reining and training and has been a punctual favorite in the first two stakes clashes for the sophomore pacing males.

After a needed prep race in February, the son of Vlos captured the first big-money meeting later that month at 3-5 and then looked every part the 1-9 shot taking down the most recent stakes dance on March 10 after taking command past the quarter.

“He was a little slow to develop last year, but we knew he had the talent,” Roland said. “After he finished second in the ($65,000) Championship at the end of the Running Aces meet, we gave him some time and pointed him for the stakes races here.”

Another Tuff Woman has won the first two stakes for the 3-year-old distaffers in romps, posting a 16-length victory in the first and coming back with another handy score for owner/breeders Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte, trainer Jose Castillo and pilot James Kennedy.

by Mark Ratzky, for Cal Expo Harness