by Scott Ehrlich, publicity director, Sacramento Harness Association

He had never been asked to go to the front, but when the opportunity presented itself, Ailene’s Prince showed his versatility.

Conditioned-claiming trotters, racing for a $3,500 purse, were featured at Cal-Expo on Friday night (January 18), in which Ailene’s Prince got the hat-trick.

Coming away in third from post-position two in the field of seven for driver Lemoyne Svendsen, a lack of early pace would see a change in tactics for the four year-old.

“We were going so slow and he was getting a hold of me a little, so I tipped him out after 3-16ths of a mile and went to the front,” said Svendsen.

Clearing to the front to the three-eighths mile pole after a :30.2 opening quarter, Ailene’s Prince would reach the half-mile timer in 1:00.1.

Receiving no final-turn pressure, Svendsen decided to pop the earplugs of his charge midway through the final-turn, which wasn’t good for his foes.

“He just took off when I popped the plugs and I knew it was all over then.”

Beginning to open up the lead at the three-quarter mile station, timed in 1:29.4, Svendsen would put the finishing ‘touches’ on the soon to be triumph.

“I just asked him a little bit at the top of the stretch and then put the whip away while letting him idle on in.”

Owned by Mary Harris and trained by Kennedy Lindsey, Ailene’s Prince would win ($4.40) very easily by two-lengths, in 1:58.3, a lifetime best. The victory for Svendsen gave him a driving triple. My Tryin Ryan (Steve Wiseman) finished in second, and Apr (Scott U’Ren) found room late and came on to be 1-1/4 lengths farther back, in third.

“It was his best race ever,” Svendsen concluded.