by Mark Ratzky, for Cal Expo

Sacramento, CA — The 7-year-old trotter Ailene’s Prince and trainer Kennedy Lindsey get along exceptionally well at Cal Expo, with their latest teaming resulting in three straight victories. Rick Plano was in the sulky for the first pair, while Steve Wiseman did the honors last week.

Ailene’s Prince was away from the Lindsey barn for a time, but returned a couple of months ago and is back to his winning ways. His last two victories have been carbon copies, as he settles early, brushes to the front at the half and takes control of things from that point for clear-cut scores.

“What’s the secret?” Lindsey replied. “I guess he likes me and I like him. There was a period a couple of years ago where we won 10 in a row with him. I’ve had horses like that at times, and I’ve also had those where it works the other way and we just don’t get along and they do better in another barn.

“When I got him back, the first thing I did was to remove the trotting hopples. I wanted to get his confidence back, so at first we concentrated on him not making any breaks. After that, we were able to get more aggressive with him.

“He’s got his problems, and you always have to be careful with him away from the gate. Once they straighten on the backstretch, though, he gets rolling and you can do whatever you want with him. On the last turn, you just have to make sure you don’t let his mouth loose and then he’ll come home strong.”

Lindsey, who has trained some nice performers on both gaits over the years, admits that he’s always had a special feeling for the trotting set.

“They take a lot more patience than a pacer, but I really enjoy working with them.”

The reward, of course, comes when it all ends up in the winner’s circle with the camera flashing and smiles all around. Like the last three times Ailene’s Prince has suited up for action.

Thursday night spotlight on Pick 4’s At Cal Expo

Every Thursday night through the end of the meeting, both Pick 4’s offer a reduced 15 percent takeout rate, with the Late Pick 4 coming attached with a $10,000-guaranteed gross pool.

To give some examples of how much more this means in terms of return on a winning ticket, the old payoff of $90 is $101.60 with the reduced takeout. A $150 payoff jumps to $169.40; a $352 ticket would now be worth $397.50; and an $850 payoff becomes $960 under these conditions.

On Saturday nights, the guaranteed gross pool for the Late Pick 4 has been increased to $15,000. Both the Early and Late Pick 4’s on Saturdays have the reduced 15 percent takeout, with a bonus payout of 17.65 percent for winning Late Pick 4 tickets played on track at Cal Expo or at TwinSpires.com.

Racing secretary Fred Kuebler does his best to put the fullest and most contentious fields in these spots, hopefully resulting in some worthwhile returns for every winning investment.

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Thursday night’s feature is a $3,200 conditioned claiming event for the pacers that finds Arch Nemeses coming off a head loss at 17-1 at this level and taking on the likes of the hard-knocking mare She Is So Glad and recent winner Itza Free For All.

Arch Nemeses is a 5-year-old son of Artiscape who races for Nathalie Tremblay and Wendi Wiener with Tremblay training and Scott Cisco at the helm. He has two wins to his credit this season and just missed to favored Thedeadliestcatch last week at a big number with Steve Wiseman guiding.

She Is So Glad was fourth in that affair after doing her work in first-over fashion. Junior Wilkinson conditions the Power Of Art homebred and co-owns with Hans Karge, Billie Schwartz and Jay Rosenberg. Jim Lackey has the assignment from the cozy one-hole.