by Scott Ehrlich, Publicity Director, Sacramento Harness Association

There was a new kid on the block named Hippity Hop and he wasn’t supposed to get beat, but no one told that to Casimir Dow Jones, who wore him down in the stretch.

Open l pacers, racing for a purse of $7,500, waged battle on Saturday night at Cal-Expo Raceway, in which Casimir Dow Jones proved too tough when it counted.

Before starting from post-position one of the field of seven, driver Steve Wiseman knew that the New Zealand invader, Hippity Hop (Jim Lackey), was a force to be reckoned with.

“I saw Hippity Hop qualify and he was impressive,” said Wiseman. “Plus I had heard he was a nice horse in New Zealand, so I knew he could be tough to beat in there. But, I also figured he could possibly need at least one race, so I figured I had a shot to win. As far as my strategy, I wanted to come away close in the top three, but I didn’t think Hippity Hop was going to leave like he did. I actually thought that Mad River Hanover (Gilbert Herrera) might leave, and I’d be sitting in the two-hole behind him, but it worked out well anyway.”

Leaving enough to come away in second behind the speedy Hippity Hop, Casimir Dow Jones would gap 2-1/2 lengths into the first-turn, while appearing rank.

“He wasn’t really rank, he just has trouble going into the turn because he gets into his knee just a little bit. I wasn’t concerned though, I just had to ease him into the turn, then once he’s in the turn, he’s ok.”

Closing up the gap to just 1-1/2 lengths at the quarter-mile pole, timed in :28.2, Wiseman was pleased.

“I was thinking we were good, we were sitting good.”

Soon to sit a pretty tight pocket at the 5-16 mile pole while now on the iron, as the pace had dramatically slowed up, Casimir Dow Jones sat anxious at the half-mile pole, timed in a very slow :59.

“I was surprised that no one had come, but it didn’t concern me at that point that Hippity Hop had gotten away with the slow second-quarter and the slow first-half. It was after the half I got concerned.”

The reason Wiseman got concerned after the half-mile pole, took place specifically to the five-eighths mile pole, when Lackey stepped on the pedal and Hippity Hop, in the blink of an eye, opened up a quick 3-1/3 lengths.

“I thought he was gone. I have never seen a horse accelerate as quickly as he did–he was stepping, all while I was pushing my horse all I could in the turn because of how fast the third-quarter was.”

Now racing third at the three-quarter mile pole, timed in 1:26.4, Wiseman was more optimistic than one would think, given the size of the lead of Hippity Hop.

“At the three-quarters, I thought I could reel him in because once we straighten out, my horse is totally different than he is on the turn, as he kicks into his gear.”

Moving two-wide with 3-16 of a mile to go, all while Lackey wasn’t moving a muscle on Hippity Hop, Wiseman was still confident.

“Even though Jim was sitting chilly, I still thought I could beat him because his horse had paced that strong :27.4 third-quarter, and that, combined with the possibility of him needing a start, could see him weaken a little at the end.”

With Wiseman now urging and getting his charge to respond past the 3-16 mile, Lackey would soon go to work on the 3-5 favorite to the seven-eighths mile pole, and even stronger past that point.

“Once my horse starts to pace and gets his game–it’s over–as long as I have enough racetrack to work with.”

Gaining with every stride at mid-stretch, Wiseman would soon know for sure he had it won.

“When I got to Hippity Hop’s wheel inside the sixteenth pole, that’s when I knew I had it.”

Owned by Ronnie Wakefield and trained by Kathie Plested, Casimir Dow Jones would get up to the wire to win by three-quarters of one length, in 1:54.1.

My horse was unbelievable, but I’m glad I beat Hippity Hop this week because now I won’t have to face him next week since my horse will be in the Invitational, while I assume Hippity Hop, who is a very nice animal, will remain in the Open,” Wiseman concluded.

Hippity Hop had to settle for second, and Jovial Joker (Ed Hensley) flew late with pace in a needed mile to finish another 1-3/4 lengths farther back, in third.

Live racing resumes at Cal-Expo on Wednesday, continuing through Saturday. Post-time each night is at 5:35 (PST). On Wednesday, fans can wager into the $25,000 Guaranteed Bal-Cal Pick 4 challenge. Additionally, on Wednesdays, admission is free, plus Cal-Expo offers a complete Lasagna Dinner, with salad & bread, for just $2.00.

Guaranteed Late Pick-4 pool every Friday and Saturday

Sacramento Harness Association at Cal-Expo continues to offer a $20,000 (guar.) Late Pick-4 pool every Friday and Saturday, on races nine through twelve.