by Scott Ehrlich, publicity director, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — A pair of $15,000 California Sires Stakes were featured on Friday night (Nov. 12) at Cal Expo, in which Betty Elizabeth and She Is So Glad were the best.

In the first of the two non-betting divisions, this for the trotters held prior to the wagering card, Betty Elizabeth continued her dominance.

Leaving for driver Steve Wiseman from post five in the field of the same number and tucking in third an eighth of a mile past the start into a :30.4 opening quarter, the filly remained in the three hole through a first half-mile timed in 1:02.1.

Moving first-over just to the five-eighths pole and trotting nicely to the midway point of the final turn, Betty Elizabeth found herself just a neck back at the three-quarter station, timed in 1:33. Soon forging to the lead to the seven-eighths pole, the filly drew clear with a sixteenth of a mile to go and there’d be no catching her while urged little.

Bred and owned by trainer Lisa Pilcher, Betty Elizabeth won by 2-3/4 lengths in 2:02, thus giving her a Sires Stakes hat trick. Cash Creek (Tim Maier) finished in second and Acapulco Gold (Rocky Stidham) finished just a half-length farther back in third.

“She won the one stake on Oct. 29 (after being) off over five months, then trained up good with the week off and came back and raced very well tonight in a good race for her,” said Wiseman. “Cash Creek, Acapulco Gold and my horse are all good fillies, but mine is probably a notch above them right now.”

In the second and final division, this for the pacers, She Is So Glad got back on the winning track with both wins in Sires Stakes competition.

Coming away in seventh position for driver Rich Wojcio from post seven in the field of eight into a :29.1 opening quarter, Wojcio moved first-over with his charge past the three-eighths station, then got cover well past the 7-16th pole from a brushing Upncoming Prospect (Steve Wiseman). Was the fast moving cover good or bad considering She Is So Glad couldn’t pace with it off a half-mile timed in 1:01.3?

“It was beneficial to me despite not being able to pace with it because the pace picked up and obviously the slower they go from the back the harder it is for anyone to catch them,” stated Wojcio.

Racing 2-1/2 lengths off cover at the 9-16ths marker while a :28 third quarter battle took place between Upncoming Prospect and the pacesetting One Hot Tamale (Rick Plano), She Is So Glad started to narrow the gap a bit at the three-quarter station, timed in 1:29.3.

Now moving three-wide with less than 3-16ths of a mile to go, then drifting out at the seven-eighths pole, Wojcio wasn’t concerned.

“The drifting, as I’ve said before, isn’t a problem as long as she’s out there by herself where she doesn’t have the chance to interfere with anybody.”

Taking over the lead with a sixteenth of a mile to go, the filly soon drew clear on the wire to win by 2-3/4 lengths. Bred and owned by Jay Rosenberg and trainer Jim Wilkinson in partnership with Hans Karge and Billie Schwartz, She Is So Glad stopped the timer at 1:57.3, thus winning for the third time in the last four outings. One Hot Tamale finished in second and Upncoming Prospect finished 1-1/2 lengths farther back in third.

“She was strong in the lane and very strong at the wire — and as a matter of fact was at her strongest in the mile on the wire. She used to be kind of a speed freak and I think she’s come a long way in learning how to race from behind and in a short time, too, plus against quality Sires Stakes horses. She put in a superb effort as did the entire Jim Wilkinson, Jr. stable that takes care of her,” finished Wojcio.

Featured on the wagering card were distaffers in an Open handicap pace for a purse of $5,200, in which Biggest Big Bertha won for the 58th time in her fine career.

Leaving and racing four-wide for trainer Rick Plano from post five in the field of five before racing three-wide into the first turn, the 9-year-old was able to slide down to two-wide position after an eighth of a mile. She didn’t clear the lead until well after the field had traveled 3-16ths of a mile into a :28 first quarter. Was the lead tough?

“It was just a matter of what time she got there,” stated Plano. “I got used to get there and I didn’t like it, but the bottom line is she’s just better than those horses.”

Getting a second quarter breather of :30 into a :58 first half, Plano knew who benefited.

“The second quarter made up for the first quarter.”

Pacing an effortless :28.2 third quarter while reaching the three-quarter station in 1:26.2, Plano asked his mare to go to the head of the lane and she responded and drew clear by two lengths into the stretch.

Now under urging with an eighth of a mile to go, there’d be no catching the Marilee Keene owned mare as she’d record a 1-3/4 length victory ($3.80) in 1:54.2. Red Star Ruffles (Sue Boyce) finished in second and Itza Free For All (Steve Wiseman) finished just a head back in third.

“She paced a final quarter in :28 and the last eighth in about :13-1/2 and won in hand. It was a great race for her second start off the layoff,” concluded Plano, who had three training wins on the card and four driving triumphs.

Live racing continues at Cal Expo on Saturday (Nov. 13) at 5:40 p.m. (PST).