by Mark Ratzky, for Cal-Expo Raceway
Sacramento, CA — While he has spent most of this year in the shadow of I’m Dam Goog and J W Dutch Treat, the hard-knocking veteran Armbro Scribe turned the tables and grabbed the spotlight at Cal-Expo on Friday night by posting a 21-1 surprise in the featured $7,200 Open Handicap Trot.
With regular pilot Richard Wojcio at the controls, the eight-year-old son of King Conch sat a tracking trip to the top of the stretch, found room to split rivals in the final stages and finished strongly to earn the 1:56.1 decision.
Andy and Victoria Perez are the owners, Jim Perez does the training and Armbro Scribe is now at the $374,000 mark in earnings.
J W Dutch Treat completed the exacta with regular driver Chip Lackey guiding, while I’m Dam Goog, who was assigned the demanding number 10 post after capturing last week’s top dance, had to settle for the show spot as the favorite with trainer Ed Hensley in the sulky.
No Complications left to the early lead for Lou Pena and showed the way by the quarter in :28.2, while stablemate Interview Hanover took over up front midway down the backside and cut the :57.3 half-mile. At that point, I’m Dam Goog was out of last and made a bold first-over move to battle for command by three-quarters in 1:27 flat.
When they arrived at midstretch, the uncovered trip began to take its toll on I’m Dam Goog, with Armbro Scribe finding room to come between the tiring leaders and J W Dutch Treat coming smartly after being fanned wide off a third-over trip to the stretch. He came with a solid bid, but was no match for the winner on this particular evening.