by Scott Ehrlich, publicity director, Sacramento Harness Association

A look at the formbook saw nothing but ones in the win column for California Dream, but that came to an end as The Pand Illusion upset.

Open Handicap 1 pacers, racing for a purse of $8,000, were featured at Cal-Expo on a weather related miserable Saturday night (February 23), in which the longest shot on the board won.

Before starting from his assigned post-one in the field of five over a sloppy oval, trainer/driver Rick Plano saw an upswing — as well as a plenty tough opponent.

“I thought my horse had a chance off of his last race when he won in 1:52.3 and showed me he had overcome some soundness issues prior to his last,” said Plano. “But, it’s hard to think you could beat a horse like California Dream (Luke Plano).”

Leaving to push the pace until yielding after an eighth of a mile, Plano would find himself racing third in the pocket while California Dream and a parked out Keystone Eli (Ed Hensley) were vying for the lead off of a :28.4 opening quarter mile.

“I didn’t mind that California Dream and Keystone Eli were fighting, but I didn’t like the fact that I was going to be sitting third.”

With California Dream extending Keystone Eli until the three-eighths mile pole into a :57.2 first-half, Plano, at the half-mile station, knew what he had, but also knew what was best.

“He felt good, as he did throughout the race, but I knew I was going to sit in until mid-turn or later because his best chance was in the stretch off of an inside trip.”

Moving to second-over position behind California Dream to the three-quarter mile pole, and just 1-3/4-lengths off the lead at the three-quarters, timed in 1:26.1, Plano had good reason to feel optimistic.

“He still felt real good and Keystone Eli and California Dream were battling again, all while I hadn’t asked my horse for his best stride. So, at that point, I thought I could win.”

Moving three-wide into the stretch, but clearly fighting a fierce HEADWIND, The Pand Illusion would still close with a rush past the seven-eighths mile pole, but then Mother-Nature would make her presence felt.

“There was a gust of wind, and that, combined with me having vision issues because of the rain and wind, saw my horse get sideways on me and drift in which had me wheel to wheel with California Dream. But, once I got him straightened out with a sixteenth to go, he’d pace on and I knew I was a winner because he still felt so strong.”

Owned by Plano’s wife — Maryann, The Pand Illusion would draw clear to the wire to win ($28.40) by 1-3/4-lengths, in 1:56.1, for his 21st career victory. Art N Soul (Lemoyne Svendsen) finished in second, and California Dream would see an end to his six-race win-streak, while another neck back, in third.

“When you beat California Dream, that’s a great mile,” Plano concluded.

Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Monday (February 25). Post-time is at 5:35 p.m. (PST). On Monday, admission is free, plus Cal-Expo offers a complete Lasagna Dinner, with salad & bread, for just $3.00.