from harness publicists across North America

Thursday’s (April 28) edition of Racing Roundup features a results story from Cal Expo.

W D Cowboy Justice ropes his foes at Cal Expo

Sacramento, CA — Conditioned/claiming pacers, racing for a purse of $2,700, were co-featured at Cal Expo on Thursday night, in which the longest shot on the board by 27 digits, W D Cowboy Justice, won in game fashion.

Coming away in sixth position through first half fractions of :29.1 and :59.1, driver Chris Hernandez moved his 4-year-old to second-over position at the half-mile pole. Now having nice final turn cover and only 3-1/2 lengths back at the three-quarter pole, timed in 1:28.1, Hernandez knew before the field was a quarter of a mile from home that he could win.

“Actually, halfway through the final turn I felt if my cover Dynamite Billie (Quentin Schneider) could carry me to the lane, that I had the race won because my horse was loaded.”

Moving three-wide to the head of the stretch and brushing, an urged W D Cowboy Justice gained in the lane, but had to deal with the pocket sitting Spoons (Steve Wiseman), who was taking over the lead with just a sixteenth of a mile to go.

Wearing down the perfect trip sitting Spoons to get up at the wire, the Darrell Adams trained gelding won ($77.00) by a head. Spoons had to settle for the place honors, and Bigtown Hero (Rick Plano) finished 1-3/4 lengths farther back in third.

“It couldn’t have set up any better even though I had intended to follow Bigtown Hero. But when Rick (Plano), who was behind me, didn’t pull like I thought he would where I then would follow him, and Dynamite Billie did pull, I figured I better follow him. My horse was strong and raced super,” finished Hernandez.

— Scott Ehrlich