by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal Expo Harness

Sacramento, CA — Pip’s Jenny G hasn’t been around forever, it just seems that way. When the 13-year-old mare got the job done last weekend by a nose at Cal Expo, it was her 55th win from 350 starts and pushed her career earnings to $144,000.

Pip’s Jenny G currently goes about her business for owner Juan Pacheco and trainer Lester Smith, but for much of her career raced under the banner of her breeder, Brevator (Doc) Creech.

“Her dam was a Dignitarian mare named Pip’s Cindy Lu, who was well configured but crazy, in fact she was dangerous to take to the track,” Creech recalled. “We finally gave up on her and bred her to Balanced Attack, and to tell you the truth, it was because it was convenient and cheap.”

As it turned out, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree as far as Pip’s Jenny G was concerned.

“We tried to break Jenny on the jog cart on the farm, but she was too much like her mother,” Creech continued. “I remember she even broke some of our equipment. I gave up on her and turned her over to Lester Smith, who I knew was very good with babies. Lester did a fine job and we ultimately got her to the track and the races.”

Fast forward a little over a decade and there is Pip’s Jenny G posing for pictures with pilot Luke Plano in the Cal Expo winner’s circle after being on the right end of a desperate photo finish.

“She’s always had a bit of an attitude from her dam, which is good as long as it’s directed at winning races,” Creech explained. “She turned out to be a good solid mare.”

Pip’s Jenny G is scheduled to make start No. 351 in Sunday’s 11th and final race. A tip of the cap to this fan favorite, who has come a long way from her bad girl days.