by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal Expo Harness

Sacramento, CA — Chip Lackey had a couple of nice winners at Cal-Expo last weekend, driving Brewski to a Sire Stakes score for Junior Wilkinson and guiding the Lino Pacheco-trained One And Only to his second straight victory in the Open Pace.

Brewski made every pole a winning one in last Friday’s Sire Stakes for the 3-year-old pacing fillies, taking full advantage of a break by heavily-favored J’s Littlerockstar.

“I was pretty much committed to go to the front in there,” Lackey noted. “I didn’t want to let up on her, because I know she can get a little lazy when she’s in front.”

Lackey was reunited with One And Only on March 29 and their last two teamings have ended up in the charmed enclosure.

“I hadn’t driven him for about a year and I could tell that he had matured and was much stronger,” Lackey related.

One And Only finished fourth in their first attempt, then was a smashing winner on April 5 while establishing a new mark with the 1:51.2 clocking. He did an encore last week, once again taking the measure of his highly-regarded stablemate Pancetta.

“I was disappointed with that first race, but it was the slop and he just didn’t handle it. I was very happy when he won the next one, because so much was expected of him in that previous mile. He really gave me a great kick when he came out that night.”

In the most recent appearance, it appeared that Pancetta had the measure of his barnmate when he motored by turning for home and opened up a clear lead. One And Only had other ideas, however, and re-rallied to win going away for a somewhat surprised Lackey.

“When Pancetta came up to us, I didn’t want to battle and took hold of my horse and let him go,” Lackey said. “I wasn’t sure One And Only was going to come back and get him once the other horses opened up on us, but he was real good in the stretch and came back. It was very impressive.”