by Scott Ehrlich, publicity director, Sacramento Harness Association

Race-secretary Fred Kuebler assigned him the outside because he thought he was the best, the fans bet him down to twenty cents to the dollar because they thought he was the best, and guess what, California Dream was the best.

Open Handicap 1 pacers, racing for an $8,000 purse, were featured at Cal-Expo on Saturday night (January 19), in which California Dream got a three-peat.

Before starting from post-position five in the field of five, driver Luke Plano stated the obvious.

“I thought my chances were very good and my plans were to head to the front,” said Plano.

Joined in leaving this week by Frankthebank (Rich Wojcio), was Plano concerned?

“Not really, I was kind of expecting him to leave.”

Taking the lead away from Frankthebank just before the middle of the first-turn, Plano points out that the lead wasn’t that tough.

“I didn’t use him too much because he’s pretty handy off the gate. Once I made the lead, I grabbed a hold of him, but he also lets go of you pretty good because he relaxes.”

Reaching the quarter-mile pole, timed in a flat :28, Plano would rate his charge through a very easy :29.4 second-quarter, thus reaching the half-mile station in :57.4.

“The second-quarter was a real strong breather for him and he was feeling pretty strong. At that point, I felt we shouldn’t have any excuses from there.”

Receiving no third-quarter pressure, the 5-year-old gelding would trip the three-quarter mile pole beam at 1:26.3, all with an optimistic, yet respectful pilot.

“He still felt strong at the three-quarters and I thought my chances were excellent, but I was aware of the good late kick that Frankthebank had in his last, so I had slight concerns with him.”

Accelerating into the stretch while under encouragement, California Dream would turn it up a notch with an eighth of a mile to go.

“He has a real nice brush to him and took off like a jet when I asked him while pacing strong all the way to the wire.”

Owned by Richard Nittoly and Wendy Crissman, and trained by Jim Wilkinson Jr., California Dream would not be caught in the stretch, reporting home a winner by two-lengths, in 1:54, a seasonal best and his 21st victory in 51 career starts. Frankthebank finished in second, and D Jokerman (Steve Wiseman) finished a length farther back, in third.

“It was an excellent race by a very nice horse,” Plano finished.

Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Sunday (January 20). Post-time is at 5:35 p.m. (PST). On Sunday, fans can wager into the $20,000 Guaranteed Bal-Cal Pick 4 Challenge.