by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Next week will find the fifth renewal of the popular East-West Amateur Driver Challenge at Cal-Expo, and Rick Bertrand will join Chris Hernandez, Dave Siegel and Robert Stepien on the local squad that will be taking on four invaders from the other side of the country.

For 47-year-old Bertrand, his passion for the trotters and pacers goes back to his teenage years when he was growing up in Michigan.

“I’ve been in the business since I was 15,” he explained. “I grew up three miles from Hazel Park and my parents used to go to the track. I got to know some of the horsemen, and during the summer I would clean stalls and hang around the track. When I was 19, I started training and fell in love with the driving and training aspect of harness racing.”

Rick has had the opportunity to work with some top horsemen over the years, rattling off their names with pride.

“There was Terry, Tim and Todd Butler, Merit Dokey, Mickey Burke and Mike Silva. I’ve also had the chance to drive at a lot of tracks back East like Hazel Park, Balmoral, the Meadowlands, Pocono, Northfield, Mohawk and Indiana Downs. I would have to say The Meadows is my favorite, though.”

Now a member of the California Amateur Driving Club, Bertrand was also part of the well-known Billings Amateur Club for a couple of years.

“I’ve known some of the guys who have come out here to compete in these East-West events. They’re a lot of fun, because you get to drive horses you normally don’t get the chance to drive, and have a little communication to go along with it.”

Rick had plenty of praise for Siegel, who serves as president of the CADC and is pivotal in putting this Challenge together every year.

“Dave has done a great job with it, and maybe someday we can go back East and challenge them on their turf.”

For the record, Dave Ehrenberg, Tony Verruso, Kelly Walker and Tom Williams will challenge the West team. California has prevailed in three of the first four of these match-ups, but the East has put together a strong contingent and it promises to be very close.

Seems ‘The Lite’ has gone on

To say that trainer Raul Escobedo was happy with Natty Lite’s maiden-breaking victory last week would be an understatement.

The 3-year-old pacing colt, who is owned by Escobedo and Sal Wenceslao, finally got over the hump in his 22nd trip to the post. He did it in style, as he sat a stalking trip, made a move to the lead at the head of the stretch and then held off favored Art Deco for the length decision with John Chappell at the controls.

“I bought him late last year from Rick Plano, and he’s a nice little stud,” related Escobedo. “You don’t see too many Alabama-breds around here. He was a late foal, so I think he’s going to keep on improving.”

Natty Lite forfeited any chance he had one start back when he made a break before the start, but there were no such issues in last week’s assignment. He left smartly for Chappell before accepting the pocket, was out and moving on the final bend and then held off the second-over favorite the length of the stretch.

“I really liked the way he held off the other horse. That was the first time John Chappell had ever sat behind him, and it looked like they got along great. With the way he won, I can see him moving up to some conditioned races and being right there.”

For his next assignment, the little colt from the heart of Dixie will suit up once again on Saturday evening (April 3) while taking on a tougher crew. Escobedo is hoping the good times continue.

Team Plano attacking main event

Rick Plano is well represented in Saturday’s (April 3) Open Pace, as he will handle the hard-knocking Frankyluvsmeatbals, while he also sends out the ageless mare Biggest Big Bertha in the compact cast.

Frankyluvsmeatbals is owned by Rick’s wife Maryann and posted three devastating victories at the head of the class between January 16 and February 13. The streak came to an end in the March 13 Open, however, and Plano has had to wait three weeks at his chance at revenge.

“He’s doing very well, but it’s hard to keep a horse at the top of their game when they only race once a month,” his mentor said. “You can train them hard, but nothing takes the place of a race as far as conditioning.

“In that last mile, he had the outside as usual and was last behind an easy pace. They really smoked in that back half (:54.4), and he just didn’t have a chance to make up ground.”

Biggest Big Bertha only joined the Plano barn a few months ago and the 9-year-old mare appears to have a new lease on life. She comes into this event having posed for pictures following two of her last three outings while pushing her career bankroll over the $300,000 plateau.

“They were deciding whether to breed her or not, or give her one more shot at racing,” Rick explained. “She just seems to be getting better and better with each start, and she’s acting more like a 3- or 4-year-old these days.”

News and Notes

There will now be one Super High 5 wager every night. It will be a $1 minimum and take place on the 10th race on each program. Additionally, there is now Superfecta wagering at Cal-Expo on all races with seven or more entrants.

Next week will find the first series of Sire Stakes races for the 3-year-old trotters and pacers, with the initial round set for Friday (April 9) and Saturday (April 10) and the $25,000 Championships to be decided on May 22.

A reminder that this month’s schedule will find a pair of Wednesday night programs, April 21 and 28, with Thursday, April 22, and Thursday, April 29, being dark. There will be Friday and Saturday harness action throughout the month.