by Scott Ehrlich, Publicity Director, Sacramento Harness Association

After a pedestrian opening quarter, things weren’t shaping up for Summer Franco, but from there the pace was fast and furious, which worked out just fine for her.

Five talented ladies, racing for a $10,000 purse, slugged it out in a Fillies and Mares Free For All Handicap pace on Friday night at Cal-Expo Raceway, where Summer Franco took full advantage of a ferocious middle-half and a great cover trip.

Assigned the outside, trainer and driver Rick Plano still felt quite confident about his charge.

“She came off of a very strong mile last week,” said Plano. “So I just assumed that if things went pretty good, that she’d have a very good chance. As far as my strategy, I normally don’t do this, but I made up my mind before the race that I wasn’t going to leave with her and race her from behind as she has been a little bit hot or strong headed when you send her to the front.”

With the field sent on their way, Plano wasn’t pleased with how thing were shaping up early.

“Nobody left off the gate, and I didn’t like what was going on. But, about an eighth of a mile past the start, when Rhiana Seelster (Steve Wiseman) stayed out in lane-two and didn’t duck in, I assumed she was going to the front.”

Sitting last by five and one-quarter lengths at the quarter-mile pole, timed in a subdued :29, Plano had to be concerned.

“Well, only briefly, because as soon as we straightened out, the pace picked up dramatically. As a result, when the pace picked up, I was thinking that things were going better.”

With Rhiana Seelster now on the lead, and pacing a :27.1 second-quarter mile, while reaching the half-mile pole in :56.1, Plano had to be pleased, considering he had a good hold of his mare, even with the expeditious pace.

“As long as she was holding on to me like that, I knew she was good and that my chances were good as well.”

Racing second-over to the 9-16 mile pole while following the live cover of Goaheadandlietome (Brad Irvine), Plano remained pleased.

“She still had a good hold of me and was traveling well.”

Towed up to third while just two and one-half lengths back at the three-quarter mile pole, timed in 1:23.4, which meant the middle-half for the field was a scorching :54.3, Plano was now confident.

“My horse felt good and I knew I was going to be on the wire, hopefully winning.”

Tipping three-wide for the drive, Summer Franco immediately was in full gear.

“I tipped her and she took right off. I let her pace a little bit and pulled the earplugs and she responded, all while I drove her all the way to the wire.”

Taking a slim lead at mid-stretch, Summer Franco now had to deal in deep-stretch with her stable-mate, Tawny Reserve (Rich Wojcio).

“I saw Tawny Reserve coming at me late, but I knew the wire was coming.”

Holding off Tawny Reserve to win by a head, the Virginia Schick owned mare, who paced her final three-quarters of a mile in 1:22.2, and her final-half mile in :54.3, stopped the timer at 1:52.2, a lifetime mark. The driving victory for Plano was the first of four winners on the card. Additionally, it marked the 19th consecutive card and the 65th time in the last 66 cards that Plano has won at least one race on each of those cards.

“Obviously the :54.4 middle-half, which I hadn’t anticipated, summed up very well for me because she won, but it was still a very good race for her. Hopefully, she came out of it well.”

Tawny Reserve finished in second, and Brooklets Kia (Ed Hensley) finished another length and three-quarters farther back, in third.

Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Saturday. Post-time will be at 6:45 p.m. (PST). 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 pool every 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 seven through 10.