by Scott Ehrlich, Publicity — Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Weekend Sires Stakes action continued at Cal Expo, on which one sophomore had big time racing luck on his side, whereas the other one didn’t need it.

A pair of non-wagering $15,000 California Sires Stakes for 3-year-old Colts & Geldings, on both gaits, were featured on Saturday evening (April 9) prior to the betting card, on which Lodi Nickolus and Shamderock won with many lengths to spare.

In the first division for the trotters, three of them, the race was over before it started as both I’m So Sulky (Steve Wiseman) and Final Chapter (Rich Wojcio) broke well before the start and spotted themselves a minimum of twenty lengths, thus leaving Lodi Nickolus and trainer Pierre Girard all alone from post two.

“I realized a sixteenth of a mile past the start that there was nobody behind, so I just let him roll,” stated Girard.

Cutting out a fairly fast first-half of :30.2 & 1:01.3 while leading by anywhere from 20 to 25 lengths in the second-quarter, Girard would eventually take a look back to the midway point of the final-turn to see that Final Chapter had gotten to within 10-lengths. Was there cause for concern?

“You never know what can happen and you never want to have anybody catch you sleeping, and that can happen. I tapped the whip on him a little bit to keep him to his task, but I never really asked him at anytime of the mile.”

Slowing up at the head of the lane while now on top by six lengths, then four lengths with an eighth of a mile to go, the recovery for Final Chapter would take its toll and Lodi Nickolus was now home free, opening up in the final sixteenth of a mile while urged little.

“There were no concerns because he was never shaky while solid throughout.”

Bred & owned by Mary Harris in partnership with Girard, the colt won by 11-1/4 lengths, in 2:05.3, establishing a lifetime mark. Final Chapter tried his hardest after the miscue while finishing in second, and Im So Sulky finished another 6-1/4 lengths farther back, in third.

“It looked like it was my turn to get lucky because when he was two he made breaks often – – so hopefully I’ve taken care of that problem. Even though he went in 2:05.3, keep in mind it was with no one around to challenge us and without me asking him except for a tiny bit late. I did get lucky because the other two broke, but he raced fine given the scenario and I know he can go faster,” finished Girard.

In the second and final division, for the pacers, Shamderock continued his State-Bred dominance.

Coming away in third position from post-three in the field of four for trainer Rick Plano, the pair were in reserve early.

“I stayed where I was to just measure things up past the quarter-pole (:29.4), then decided to move at the half (1:00).”

Coming with a rush and powering to the lead just past the five-eighths mile marker and opening up nicely while being asked a little past the midway point of the final turn, Plano told it like it was.

“When you come :27.3 on the board and :27 yourself, it’s kind of hard to stop me from getting to the front.”

Reaching the three-quarter mile station, timed in 1:27.3, Plano urged his charge once at the head of the lane and put the final nail in the coffin.

“Once we hit the top of the stretch I pulled his earplugs and he was pacing pretty fast. I urged him a few times in the lane because I wanted to make sure he was going to keep on going. He was very strong down the lane while pacing a back half in :55 seconds.”

Opening up the lead at the seven-eighths mile pole & expanding that margin the rest of the way with every stride, the gelding clobbered his foes by 14-1/2 lengths. Bred & owned by D & E Racing, Shamderock stopped the timer at 1:55.3. Spoons (Steve Wiseman) finished in second, and Millions (Lemoyne Svendsen) finished 1-1/4 lengths further back, in third.

“He raced super and fortunately at this point there’s no one as good as him and hopefully it will stay that way. But there are some horses qualifying this week, so it could be tougher,” concluded Plano, who had a driving double on the night. On the Saturday night card, drivers Scott Cisco, Luke Plano and James Kennedy also had driving doubles, while Steve Wiseman & Lemoyne Svendsen each had a driving triple.