by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal Expo Harness

Sacramento, CA — After suffering through a tough trip in his previous mile, the trotter Jailer returned to his winning ways last week at Cal Expo for driver/trainer Rick Bertrand and now has two tallies from four trips to the post since coming in from Hoosier Park.

The son of Jailhouse Jesse is owned by Bertrand and Doug Flores and appears to have found a nice home in California. Last week’s mile saw him leaving sweetly into the pocket, an attack came past the half and at the wire he had two lengths on his nearest rival.

“Doug and I purchased Jailer from Ken Booher and Chuck Taylor in Michigan,” Bertrand related. “Ken really liked him and said he is a really nice horse and probably wouldn’t even sell him, but at this time in his life he only wants one horse and they had just bought a 2-year-old.

“Well, Ken was right He’s a nice horse all the way around, in the barn or jogging and even driving him. My partner Doug is from California and retired a few years ago from a hobby shop that was owned by he and his wife Lorraine.”

Doug Flores always enjoyed coming out to watch the races at Cal Expo and it was some years ago that Bertrand asked him if he wanted to go 50-50 on a horse.

“By now we’ve owned a couple dozen horses, including one Doug had a chance to rename Winonefordoug.

“We’ve bred our mare C Miracle Mary, who has a Cal-bred 2-year-old and weanling and they also have Doug in their names.”

As for Jailer, he is set to start next in Sunday’s Dr. Gary Budahn Trot.

“I know this horse has become one of Doug’s favorites,” Bertrand added.

Sire Stakes, Open Pace hold the spotlight

King Of The Crop looks to add another trophy to his display case when he heads the cast in Saturday night’s $10,000 California Sire Stakes for the newly-turned 4-year-old pacing males, while St Lads Lottto eyes his seventh straight victory in the co-featured Open Pace.

There will be 11 races under the Watch and Wager LLC banner Saturday evening and the action gets underway at 6:40 p.m. A reminder that the trotters and pacers are now competing three nights a week, with Friday, Saturday and Sunday programs.

King Of The Crop is a homebred son of Little Steven out of the Real Artist mare Romance Me who races for Frank Nevarez, is conditioned by Gordie Graham and will have Bruce Clarke in the sulky.

King Of The Crop has accounted for the last two added-money events decided for this division, capturing the April 26 gathering that finished up the last meet and then proving a punctual even-money favorite in the initial stakes decided at this stand on Nov. 29.

In that mile, the Nevarez colorbearer was a game, first-over winner with the 1:55.1 clocking being two ticks off the mark he established here at the last session. He returned to take down a conditioned affair at next asking and then finished fourth in his most recent trip to the post.