from Cal-Expo Raceway

Sacramento, CA — On Saturday, March 27, Cal-Expo enjoyed a breezy cool evening with clear skies and the promise of warmer weather next week. The featured pace spotlighted eight $25,000 to $35,000 claiming sidewheelers racing for a purse of $7,200.

Neptune All Night, whose second last week stopped a string of four straight wins, was sent off the 6-5 public favorite. He raced like the favorite, too, coming second over for the win in 1:53 flat.

Mitchell Paul and Deliverance N rocketed out of the gate and the former found the pylons first. Neptune All Night was caught outside fifth and Gilbert Garcia kept him moving sensing that Woodmere Dropper, who was third at the time was not going to keep up. Garcia was correct and just past the :27⁴ opener he was able to easily drop in third.

Midway down the backstraight Deliverance looked as if he tipped himself out and Luke Plano had no choice but to go on with him and he took the lead at the :56³ half.

Just before the 1:25¹ three-quarters Garcia tipped Neptune All Night out and that move immediately forced Todd Ratchford, driving Mitchell Paul, to make a choice: Come out now or chance Deliverance faltering in the stretch and getting boxed in. He chose to come first over. It was the right choice.

Mitchell Paul passed Deliverance easily and Ratchford put him under extreme pressure to hold off Neptune All Night. He did just that until deep stretch when he faltered and Neptune All Night blew on by for the win by three parts of a length. Mitchell Paul did hold second and Lou Pena had Bingo Baron flying from way back and they got by Deliverance for third.

Garcia also owns and trains the winner. This was his fifth win in his last six starts. He is a seven-year-old stallion by Matt’s Scooter, out of the BG’s Bunny dam Christmas Starlet. This 25 claimer has now won just under $19,500 this year.