by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Matias Ruiz has had the pacer Shoot The Works for two years now, and he’ll be suiting him up for the richest potential payday during that period in Saturday night’s (Nov. 6) finale of the Desmond series at Cal-Expo.

Nobody in this cast has been more impressive than Shoot The Works during the first two legs of this event. He changed tactics to come from last while overcoming an outside draw over a sloppy track the first week with Luke Plano, then made the winning move at the half last time with Rick Plano in the bike while posting a romping score with a lifetime best 1:54.1 clocking.

“I actually bought him out of a field and it’s just been a matter of keeping him feeling good,” owner/trainer Ruiz related. “It’s been a little up and down and he’s had his problems, but he’s a nice horse and right now he’s close to 100 percent sound.”

Ruiz admits he was surprised Shoot The Works was able to come from so far back in the opening leg, but was confident going into last week’s assignment and wouldn’t trade places with anybody in this weekend’s final.

“He likes to race close to the pace, and when he was last at the half in that first race, I was thinking to myself I hope he at least gets a check,” Ruiz explained. “Luke did a great job with him that night and they came at the end to get it.

“Both of the Planos get along real well with this horse. Last week Rick moved at the right time and it was over. It didn’t hurt to have a much better post and a hard track, and after that mile I’d have to say he’s as good right now as he’s been since I’ve had him.”

For Saturday’s tour, Shoot The Works has landed the outside post in the field of seven with Rick doing the honors. While he didn’t get the best of the draw, in his current form there’s no question this guy is the one to beat.

Sire Stakes on tap Saturday

A pair of $15,000 California Sire Stakes for the 2-year-old trotting and pacing colts are also on Saturday’s Cal-Expo program. Both of the Sire Stakes will go as non-betting events prior to the regular program.

Shamderock would appear to hold the aces in the pacing event after posting impressive victories in the first two big-money dances for the division, including an 8-1/4 length romp in the most recent clash two weeks ago. Rick Plano drives and trains the D&E Racing Inc. homebred, while Spoons, The Power Load, Millions and Achy Breaky Art are his challengers.

Im So Sulky has been equally dominating among the trotting colts for owner/trainer Alan Anderson and pilot Steve Wiseman. The son of Armbro Variable has gone coast-to-coast in both stakes races, coming home with 16 lengths to spare in the last one on Oct. 23. Looking for an upset are Final Chapter, Tangled Web and Lodi Nickolus.

Live racing resumes at Cal-Expo on Thursday (Nov. 4) and continues through Saturday (Nov. 6). Post time on Thursday is at 6 p.m. (PDT). Post time on Friday (Nov. 5) is at 5:40 p.m. Approximate post time on Saturday is 5:45 p.m.