by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — After clicking just once from his first 19 starts this year, Western Hurricane comes into Saturday’s (August 21) program at Cal-Expo having posed for pictures in three of his last four trips to the post for trainer Nathalie Tremblay and pilot James Kennedy.

The 6-year-old Western Hanover pacer finished up the spring in smart style, and obviously had a nice summer break as he returned with a sharp 1:56 score with Kennedy in his usual off-the-pace fashion.

“I’ve had him for about six months now,” said Nathalie, who conditions the pacer for her mother Lili. “We bought him from Ohio, where he wasn’t getting around the half-milers and we thought the mile track would help.”

Western Hurricane was just hitting his best stride when the spring session came to an end, taking two of his last three, then got the two-month vacation along with the other local trotters and pacers. He got a nice muscle-stretcher in his matinee mile, then blasted home to get the job done last week in the fastest tour of the weekend.

“He’s a good little horse and he spent the summer in my mom’s backyard,” Nathalie explained. “I wasn’t worried about him being fit enough, and James gets along great with him. You just have to sit early and he can really come home.”

While the Tremblay color-bearer was prevailing over $4,000 types in his return, he’s being bumped up a few levels for Saturday’s assignment in what appears to be much deeper water.

“We’re putting him up in class because he’s fresh and there’s claiming going on,” Nathalie said.

It was smiles all around

It only took two races into the current meet for a feel good story to emerge, as Gordie Graham’s trotter Calzone and driver Rich Wojcio combined for a triumphant return after both were away from the wars since January.

While Calzone’s hiatus was planned, Wojcio’s time off was definitely out of his hands as he was recovering from a concussion, broken left arm and facial injuries that were suffered in a very scary spill.

The first race back for both was storybook fashion, as they came from last to account for the opening night feature. It was the ninth win from 18 starts for Calzone, who is by Yankee Glide out of the outstanding racemare Ahh Saundra, with the latter also going about her business for Graham.

“It’s nobody’s fault, but the track was just too hard for him at the beginning of the year,” explained owner/trainer/breeder Graham. “That was a very uncharacteristic break he made in his last race, and his feet were really stinging him. The Yankee Glides have done extremely well, but they do tend to have issues with their feet.

“He stayed here at the track up until the break, and then he went up to Al Anderson’s place and got a nice little vacation with a lot of paddock time. One of the reasons I waited as long as I did to bring him back is because Rich gets along so well with him.”

So while Wojcio was going through therapy and gradually getting back into the shape to add to his 3,600-plus career victories, Graham was taking his time with Calzone and plotting last Friday night’s (August 13) return to competition.

“Calzone actually relaxes more for Rich than he does for me, so it just seemed right to wait until the meet started up again and then he could drive him. We got a nice prep into him in that matinee and it all worked out perfectly. It was very satisfying to have it be Rich’s first drive back.”

Sacramento Mountain Lions cheerleaders will be on hand Saturday night at Cal-Expo, promoting the upcoming United Football League season. The UFL provides high-quality professional football during a traditional fall season while embracing innovation and fan interaction. For ticket information go to www.tickets.com or call (916) 383-LION (5466).

A reminder that next week will find a return to the regular Thursday-through-Saturday schedule for the trotters and pacers. On the wagering front, there is now a 50-cent Pick 5 offered each night and it begins on the fifth race.

Live racing resumes at Cal-Expo on Friday, August 20 and Saturday, August 21. Post time on Friday is at 6:20 p.m. (PDT). Post time on Saturday is at 6:10 p.m.