by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Rick Cisco made a couple of winner’s circle appearances with his trainees last Wednesday night (April 21) at Cal-Expo, greeting the returning Gutsy Winds Ahead in the enclosure following a maiden victory, then a couple of hours later had his picture snapped with the veteran mare Charter Ridge.

Gutsy Winds Ahead, a Hi Ho Silverheel’s homebred who carries the Laurette Odney banner, was unable to hit the board in four starts as a 2-year-old last season, but appears to have returned a much-improved sophomore. He parlayed a handy qualifying score into a smart diploma earner over a sloppy track in his seasonal bow.

“He was a great, big 2-year-old, and he just needed some time to mature,” Cisco explained. “Last year he went from a 2:07 qualifier into a 1:56 and change race, and it may have played with his head a little. He’s got it together now, and it looks like he might be okay.”

On the other end of the size spectrum is the diminutive 9-year-old mare Charter Ridge, who is one of the smallest performers on the grounds.

“She probably doesn’t weigh over 700 pounds, but she’s got a big heart,” her mentor related. “She’s my all-time favorite, edging out Southern John.”

Cisco has had this distaffer for each and every one of her 200 trips to the post, resulting in 15 wins, 24 seconds and 32 thirds while earning her $82,000 bank account and 1:54.4 mark the old-fashioned way.

“She didn’t make her first start until the end of her 3-year-old year, and she won three of those eight,” Cisco recalled. “She’s getting on now, so she can’t go with the same caliber, but she still tries hard every time.”

You get the feeling the trainer wouldn’t mind having a barnful with this gal’s work ethic. Both of these pacers are back in action Wednesday (April 28) in hopes of doubling their pleasure.

Super High 5 carryover; $10,000 Handicapping Contest continues

The second of two Wednesday night programs at Cal-Expo will feature a $3,283 carryover in the Super High 5 and is also the final qualifying round for the $10,000 Spring Harness Handicapping Challenge. There will be no Thursday racing this week, with the trotters and pacers in action on Friday (April 30) and Saturday (May 1) and then returning to the Thursday-Saturday schedule next week.

The Super High 5 is a $1 wager that is conducted on the 10th race each evening and challenges players to predict the first five finishers across the wire. When all is said and done, the pool is expected to reach $12,500.

The handicapping contest will take place at participating California satellite wagering facilities, racetracks and casinos. Contestants will make selections in seven Cal-Expo races, with the top 50 point earners for each qualifying round earning $50 wagering vouchers.

Those 100 players will then be eligible for the Friday, May 7, Spring Harness Handicapping Challenge finale. That final round will find a $2,500 first prize, with $750 for second, $500 for third, $250 for fourth and $100 for the fifth through 14th finishers.

There is no entry fee and all fans 18 and older are eligible. Participating locations are Golden Gate Fields, San Mateo, Cal-Expo, Stockton, Monterey, Barona, Pleasanton, Los Alamitos, Ventura, Bakersfield, Vallejo, Surfside Del Mar, Santa Rosa, Fairplex, Fresno Fair, Fresno Club One, National Orange Show, Viejas Casino and Turf Club and Commerce Casino. Please contact your local wagering facility for more details.

You can download free TrackMaster Platinum Past Performances (12 lines) for the last two Spring Harness Handicapping Challenge cards, Wednesday, April 28, and Friday, May 7. Go to www.trackmaster.com/calx to take advantage of this offer.