by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Betty Elizabeth is putting together a pretty impressive trophy case for owner/trainer/breeder Lisa Pilcher, as last week’s stakes score at Cal Expo was the sixth of her career.

The 3-year-old trotting daughter of Panama Hanover closed out the spring session with a romp over her peers, then was ready to rock and roll in the first big-money event of the fall despite not having a race or a qualifier going into that affair. She added another stakes tally to the resume at most recent asking in her second successful teaming with Steve Wiseman.

“Betty spent June and July in the barn during the day and in her paddock at night,” Pilcher related. “She jogged down on the Eurociser, and began training in August with her stablemate Inatimelymanner.”

In mid-September, the latter performer was retired to Lisa’s father’s farm in Auburn, at which time Betty Elizabeth got a new partner.

“I purchased a 4-year-old pacing mare named Tonight Is Mine and they started training together. It’s worked out real well.”

While Betty Elizabeth is two-for-two in stakes dances at this session, doing the track-and-attack to perfection on both occasions, Tonight Is Mine is doing her part for the barn with a win and a third coming into this week’s action.

Betty Elizabeth will attempt to add to her $67,000 bank account in next week’s get-together for the sophomore trotting fillies, while Pilcher has December 11 circled on the calendar as the dark-hued distaffer will shoot for another rich payday in the $20,000 championship event.

Four $20,000 championship races headline Saturday program

Four $20,000 California Sire Stakes Championship races for the 2-year-old trotters and pacers are on tap at Cal Expo on Saturday evening (Nov. 20), with Shamderock, Im So Sulky, Wing And A Prayer and Claim Jumper heading their respective divisions.

Shamderock is strictly the one to beat in the event for the pacing colts. A homebred son of Hi Ho Silverheel’s, he carries the banner of D & E Racing Inc., with Rick Plano doing the driving and training, and is looking to make a clean sweep of the big-money events for the division.

While his first stakes score was hard earned on Oct. 9, the last two have been the dominating fashion by eight and 12 lengths, followed by a 13 length tally in an overnighter last week that resulted in a 1:56.1 career standard.

Im So Sulky is also trying to continue his reign at the head of the trotting colts as he seeks his fourth trophy from as many attempts. Alan Anderson owns, trains and co-bred this son of Armbro Variable and Steve Wiseman will once again guide. He has yet to be beaten to any pole in the three previous stakes clashes, including a 16 length drubbing on Oct. 23.

Wing And A Prayer, Hi Fidelity and Racetrack Diva each have a stakes victory coming into Saturday’s championship for the distaff pacers, which could very well decide the year-end crown. Wing And A Prayer captured the most recent added-money event, rolling home late to secure the decision for owner/breeder Frank Nevarez, trainer Gordie Graham and pilot Rich Wojcio.

Hi Fidelity was the beaten favorite in that affair after going coast-to-coast in the Oct. 22 stakes meeting for Wayne Knittel and Laurette Odney and driver/trainer Rick Plano.

It was Racetrack Diva who posted a 16-1 upset in the first Sire Stakes as she looped the field, and she will attempt to get back to her winning ways for Robert Bacon and Denise Maier, trainer Tim Maier and driver Steve Wiseman.

Claim Jumper comes into the trotting filly event with a pair of trophies on the mantle for Vickie and Steve Desomer, while it was Thatssomebracciola who denied her a sweep to this point when she hung a head decision on that one in the Oct. 22 gathering. The latter is a daughter of Armbro Scribe who is owned, trained, bred and will be driven by Rick Plano.

Live racing resumes at Cal Expo on Thursday (Nov. 18) and continues through Saturday (Nov. 20). Post time on Thursday is at 5:20 p.m. (PST). Post time on Friday (Nov. 19) is at 5:40 p.m. Post time on Saturday is 5:35 p.m.

Next week’s holiday schedule includes a special holiday racing card on Wednesday evening (Nov. 24) with a special post of 4 p.m. Cal Expo will be dark on Thanksgiving. The harness action will then resume on Friday (Nov. 26) and Saturday (Nov. 27).