from Cal-Expo Raceway

Sacramento, CA — Once in awhile a feature race comes along that is truly special and that happened at Cal-Expo Raceway on Friday evening, May 14th. Five conditioned pacers racing a mile with a $6,000 purse at the end produced a blanket finish with all five across the track and the fifth place horse was beaten only three-quarters of a length!

Race-time favorite, Du Wah Diddy ($4.20) pulled out the win with a strong drive in the stretch. Luke Plano marched On Eagles Wings N out and he grabbed the pylons early. With no one coming he put the ‘slows’ on his charge. Chip Lackey grabbed the pocket with Leavnona Jateplane and Rocky Stidham put the cleverly named Du Wah Diddy in third. Bruce Clarke and Keep Cool N were fourth, and Moonie Svendsen was in the rear with Chals Flame.

They stayed that way until just before the three-quarter pole. Lackey tipped Leavnona Jateplane out first over and Stidham immediately followed with Du Wah Diddy. On Eagles Wings N was hanging tough on the inside. Keep Cool N came third over behind Du Wah Diddy and Chals Flame stayed on the pylons saving ground.

The horses in front started to tire and bear out and that left gaps which Chals Flame and Keep Cool N filled and they came to the finish with Du Wah Diddy taking the win in 1:56³. On Eagles Wings N was a head back in second, Chals Flame was a neck back of the winner in third, Leavnona Jateplane was also a neck back of the winner in fourth, and Keep Cool N was three-quarters back in fifth.

Running Springs Ranch of Santa Ynez owns the winner and Stidham also trains him. He is a three-year-old gelding by Ball And Chain, out of the Cambest mare Cool Cam Girl. This was his fifth win in 14 starts this year.