by Scott Ehrlich, publicity director, Sacramento Harness Association

Sacramento, CA — She had beaten the same field in her last four outings and now drew the pole, so it came as no surprise that Alexa Hall had her picture taken again.

Five ladies, racing in a Free For All for $10,000, were highlighted on a special 16-race card on Friday night (Dec. 29) at Cal-Expo Raceway, in which heavily favored Alexa Hall made it five in a row.

Prior to starting from post position one, trainer and driver Bruce Clarke actually wasn’t as pleased as one might think with the draw.

“Most times you’d like to draw the one hole, but in a five horse field, I would have been happier with the four or five hole as those posts would allow me to sit and wait until the final turn,” said Clarke. “So with the one hole, I was hoping to come away second or third and track until halfway through the final turn, then make my move as I usually do there. As far as my chances, I would have been disappointed if she had gotten beaten.”

Leaving enough to come away second while yielding the lead to Laura Lane N (Rocky Stidham) going into the first turn, Clarke, at the quarter-mile pole timed in :28, certainly couldn’t complain about his position.

“I was sitting in good position following the horse I had to beat; I liked my chances.”

With no change in position in the second quarter-mile, paced in an easy :29.3, Clarke remained unconcerned at the half-mile pole, timed in :57.3.

“Laura Lane N getting the second quarter breather didn’t really bother me because my horse is very versatile, in that she can sit to a fast or slow first-half — she doesn’t care.”

With the fielding racing in the final turn, the first to pull, from last, was Goaheadandlietome (Steve Wiseman), which forced the hand of Clarke at the five-eighths-mile pole.

“Goaheadandlietome flushed me out as I didn’t want to get caught in. When I moved my mare to the outside, she kind of hung a little bit, but she usually does that in the turn, so it didn’t concern me.”

Now just a long neck back at the three-quarter pole, timed in 1:26.2, Clarke had that winning feeling.

“I knew I had Laura Lane N because Rocky (Stidham) was asking and she wasn’t pulling away from me. I was still very confident, I didn’t think anyone was beating me.”

With the field sent on their way home, and with Laura Lane now under more urging, Clarke continued to think like a winner.

“When I saw Rocky go to work on his mare, I remained confident because I knew my horse would dig in halfway through the lane. I urged her to the seven-eighths-mile pole and she responded by driving off.”

Taking over the lead at mid-stretch, Alexa Hall would edge clear from that point on to win by 1-1/2 lengths. Owned in partnership by Patricia Waldeck and Jack Coffey, the 2-5 favorite stopped the timer in 1:54.3. Despite the victory, Clarke felt his mare wasn’t at her best.

“She wasn’t at the top of her game tonight because of the holiday break, which had her missing a week, and she’s not as good when she’s off a week. But, she still got the job done and made me quite happy by winning the $10,000 feature,” Clarke finished.

Tawny Reserve N (Luke Plano) closed up the inside to finish in second, and Brooklets Kia (Ed Hensley) was just a nose farther back in third.

On Friday night, Ed Hensley, Rick Plano and Rich Wojcio all had driving triples.

Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Saturday, Dec. 30. Post time is at 5:35 p.m. On Saturday, Cal-Expo will offer Dollar Night, on which hot dogs, beer, soda and wine will be sold for one dollar each.

Guaranteed Late Pick 4 on Friday and Saturday

Sacramento Harness Association at Cal-Expo continues to offer a $20,000 (guar.) Late Pick-4 pool every Friday and Saturday, on races nine through 12.