by Mark Ratzky, publicity department, Sacramento Harness Association

Sacramento, CA — Rich N Dandy, who has captured his last two starts in smart fashion, and Larry Horse, who lost his chance with a mid-race break at even-money last week, figure to get plenty of attention in Thursday’s (July 26) $4,400 feature at Cal-Expo.

The race will be decided under starter allowance conditions, which assures each of the six entrants will be returning to the same shedrow. Rich N Dandy will be part of a KC Carvalho-owned, Tom Wine-trained entry with Ogs Susie P, with James Kennedy guiding the former and Rocky Stidham handling Ogs Susie P.

Rich N Dandy is a 6-year-old son of Shady Character who was claimed for $8,000 on June 9 and comes into Thursday’s assignment having posed for pictures following three of his last four trips to the post. The first of those scores came at the $10,000 claiming level as he came with a wicked :27 flat quarter to be up in the final stride with Dave Siegel in the bike.

After failing to menace at next asking, the bay performer has made his last two outings at this starter level and has prevailed on both occasions. In the July 7 outing, with Luke Plano driving, the pair came from well back while riding a live-cover train to the drive to win going away.

He sat a much closer trip as the odds-on choice in his last effort, making what proved to be the winning move to the lead midway down the backside, this time with Rick Plano at the controls. At the wire, the 6-year-old had five lengths to spare with the 1:53.2 clocking, just a tick off the mark he established two years ago.

Ogs Susie P is one of two mares in the field, along with Shania Bluegrass, and gives the Carvhalo/Wine team another strong look at the outcome. The daughter of Anthony P looked good prevailing at this same level in the first start off a claim on July 6, then showed the way to the stretch last time but could not hold safe and eventually checked in fourth behind Shania Bluegrass.

The latter has post one as she looks to make it two in a row. David Martinez is the owner, Patty Harris calls the shots, and John Chappell will take over the driving duties. She has clicked in seven of her 20 starts this year and got a nice pocket journey last time after being used for early position.

Larry Horse made a break as the favorite last time and will be trying to rebound for Rick Plano, who reins and trains the Nikki Hudson and Osmin Carrera color-bearer. The 5-year-old Sportsmaster offspring was red-tagged for $3,000 on July 6 and came right back to prove a romping winner in his first start for the new connections.

ML Jackhammer with Tim Maier and Lu Lu’s Dreamer for Lou Pena round out the field.

Trotting mare back in good graces

Steve Hyman admits he’s had a love/hate relationship with Alan Kirschenbaum’s 5-year-old homebred trotting mare British Columbia, but it’s been all chocolate and roses of late as they teamed for a pair of impressive victories last week. A stakes winner at 2, British Columbia is approaching the $100,000 earnings plateau.

After making a break in her June 29 effort off a vacation, British Columbia posted a romping win in a qualifier on July 5 in a snappy 1:58.1. Six nights later, she toyed with six rivals after being used twice in that affair. Then on July 14, she was wheeled back and scored another strong decision while lowering her mark to 1:57.4 in the process.

“She qualified great when we were first getting her ready for the races as a 2-year-old,” Hyman related. “She got sick, though, and she missed all of the stakes races that season except the last one, which she won.”

Hyman had the filly ready for a big campaign at 3, but a new shooter from the Todd Ratchford barn had other ideas and she ended up playing second fiddle behind that one through most of the year.

“We were unfortunate to hook up with Desperatehousewife, and she was just too tough for our filly.”

Once the stakes action was completed, it was a somewhat rocky road for British Columbia, as a series of miscues kept her from showing her very best in the evenings. She would look super in many of her qualifiers and some of her races, but consistency wasn’t her strong suit.

“She has some mental and physical things and the key is to get her to relax,” Steve explained. “The qualifiers are easier because you don’t score down and have all those other distractions going on. Her last qualifier was giant, and her two races since were solid.”

Hyman has to admit, however, there have been periods when he and this dark-hued trotter just don’t get along.

“There are times when you could have asked me and I would have told you she was my sixth-favorite horse in the barn, and I only have six in there,” he said with a smile.

After her most recent double dip at the winner’s circle, there will be no such declaration. British Columbia is definitely on her game right now, and delivering on that promise she displayed at the start of her career.

Happy Days are here again

In Wednesday night’s featured $3,900 conditioned/claiming event, the Ruben Arreguin owned and Gilbert Herrera trained Oh Happy Days (Jim Lackey) rallied nicely up the inside only to get outclosed by a head just at the wire. Luck, however, was on his side, as the actual first-place finisher, Red Star Governor (Robley Johnson), who stopped the timer at 1:56.2, was disqualified and placed last for violation of the pylon rule in the first turn.

Finishing just a nose farther back was Hidden Dragon N (Rick Kuebler), who finished third and was placed second. Pebble Beach Rod (Tim Maier) finished in fourth, and was placed third.

Live racing resumes at Cal-Expo tonight (Thursday), continuing through Saturday. Post time on Thursday is at 6:30 p.m. (PDT). Post time on Friday and Saturday is now at 6:15 p.m. On Thursday, Cal-Expo offers Fiesta Thursdays, in which fans can enjoy $2.00 frozen margaritas and tacos!

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