by Mark Ratzky, publicity department, Sacramento Harness Association

Sacramento, CA — This week will find a new schedule at Cal-Expo, as the trotters and pacers will be in action on a Thursday-Sunday night basis. This Sunday’s (January 13) card will also feature the return of the popular Bal-Cal Pick 4 Challenge.

The Bal-Cal is a $1 wager that combines two races at Balmoral Park in Chicago with a pair from Cal-Expo and comes attached with a $15,000 guaranteed pool. Over the last year there have been some monster payoffs of $20,000, $19,000 and $18,000, while the months of November and early December saw jackpots of $4,200, $970 and $870 for correctly forecasting the four cross-country winners.

Interesting opener on Thursday

Thursday night’s (January 10) opener is one of the more interesting events on the 10-race program. It’s a conditioned trot that carries a $3,300 purse and the majority of the wagering action should be centered on Worldly Possession, Just Hunky Dory and Dusty Dean.

Worldly Possession is a newly turned 5-year-old daughter of Self Possessed who is owned by Carol Campbell and Jean MacDonell, with MacDonell the conditioner and Todd Ratchford in the bike. She won three of her 16 outings last season, closing out the year with a 3-1/2 length romp at this level after doing the track-and-attack to perfection.

Sent off the 4-5 chalk in last week’s tour over a sloppy track, Worldly Possession put on a big finish, but came up a neck short of catching Just Hunky Dory, who had things all his own way on the front end for Tim Maier.

Just Hunky Dory is a 5-year-old Monterey Judge offspring who competes for Leon Smith and Norm Honath, with Lester Smith the conditioner and Maier back in the bike. While she had to settle for more minor awards than wins last season, getting three victories to go with 11 seconds and thirds, she got 2008 off to a winning note.

Obviously enjoying the sloppy track, she buzzed right to the front, carved out all the fractions without getting much pressure and then held safe by a neck over the fast-closing favorite. She should get more attention at the windows this time around.

Like Worldly Possession, Dusty Dean is looking to make amends after checking in the second spot as the favorite in last week’s attempt. The Marcos Rios color-bearer takes his lessons from Raul Escobedo and has Ed Hensley guiding from the cozy one hole.

The son of Jonathan Lobell clicked four times last season, getting the most recent snapshot on December 6 at this same level over an off track. He tracked the leaders that evening and came with a powerful rally to win going away.

After picking up smaller checks in his next three trips to the post, Dusty Dean once again got sloppy conditions for his last try and was sent off the 6-5 choice, but it was Garland Bot Joefee that carried the night, however, with a big first-over move to the lead turning for home, while Dusty Dean was along to complete the exacta.

Rounding out the field are K D Shenanigans, who will be handled by Ed Hensley; Kellie’s Liberty with Gilbert Herrera in the sulky; and Jumping Joy Flash, who will have the services of James Kennedy. A 10-race card is on tap.

Mares end up in familiar place

Hats off to a couple of outstanding mares who had strong campaigns last season and started off 2008 in style last week. Both Cam’s Gidget and TV Mom had no problem with sloppy tracks and got their pictures taken yet again when all was said and done.

Last year saw the pacer Cam’s Gidget getting to the charmed enclosure 17 times for Robley Johnson, making her the winningest performer on the grounds and one of the winningest in the country. If her recent victory is any indication, she is on her way to another big season.

Meanwhile, the hard-knocking trotter TV Mom averaged just over a start a week last season with 53 trips to the post and 15 victories for owner Maurice Sigmon and trainer Kennedy Lindsey. She put another photo in the scrapbook last week with regular pilot Lemoyne Svendsen getting her home on top over the off going.

“She’s an iron horse,” Lindsey related when asked about the side-wheeler. “I wasn’t concerned about the off track, because she’s raced well over it before and gets over it real well.”

Things will get considerably tougher for TV Mom on Friday night, however, as she steps up to the Open level and takes on the likes of Ohoka Jasper N, Desperatehousewife and Simply Made. Talk about having your work cut out.

Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Thursday (January 10) and continue through Sunday (January 13). Post time each night is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. (PST). On Thursday, Cal-Expo offers Fiesta Thursdays, in which fans can enjoy $2.00 frozen margaritas and tacos!

Cal-Expo offers guaranteed $10,000 pools on all Pick-4’s!