by Scott Ehrlich, publicity director, Sacramento Harness Association

Sacramento, CA — His trip wasn’t easy, but that didn’t stop Final Choice from repeating.

A field of five conditioned trotters, and one horse in to be claimed, were featured at Cal-Expo on Thursday night (October 11), in which the only horse that could be purchased, that being Final Choice, won.

In advance of starting from the outside in the field of a half-dozen, owner/trainer/driver Gilbert Herrera knew his hand was pretty much forced.

“I didn’t want to use him early because when you use him early, he’s not too good,” said Herrera. “So I knew I just had to take my chances from behind.”

Coming away last into a :28.1 opening quarter, Final Choice would begin his mission by pulling first-over at the three-eighths-mile pole. With the field now approaching the half-mile pole, Final Choice would steadily gain while fifth at the half, timed in :58 by the pace-setting British Columbia (Steve Hyman).

Receiving cover from Phipps (Lou Pena) with 7-16ths of a mile to go, Herrera would get concerned as Phipps stalled.

“I know Phipps doesn’t take the turns too well, so I was very worried about him taking me out of the race, especially since British Columbia was opening up on the lead at that same point.”

With no advancement from his cover, Herrera would move his charge three-wide at the three-quarters, timed in 1:27.2, with Herrera now feeling better about his chances.

“My horse felt pretty good and now I felt I had a shot to catch British Columbia. I asked him to go in the lane and he was ready to go when I asked. I, however, wasn’t sure if I was going to catch British Columbia until I got close to her, at which point — when seeing British Columbia — my horse would try even harder and would get by her.”

Closing in determined fashion, Final Choice would take the lead in deep stretch and draw clear to the wire to win ($6.00) by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:57, a seasonal best and his 33rd career triumph. Easter Call (Rick Kuebler) came on in the lane to just get up for second, and British Columbia finished just a nose farther back in third.

“He raced excellent again,” Herrera concluded.

Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Friday (October 12) and continue through Saturday. Post time on Friday and Saturday is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. (PDT). On Friday, Cal-Expo offers Happy Hour between 6:00-8:00 p.m., where $1 beer, $2 wine and $3 orders of Buffalo Wings are offered.

Cal-Expo offers guaranteed $10,000 pools on all Pick-4’s!