Chals Flame scores in an upset
January 23, 2004,from Cal-Expo Raceway
Sacramento, CA — Chals Flame ($20.80) upset the field in the featured race at Cal-Expo Raceway on Thursday, January 22. Six pacers meeting certain conditions showed up to race for a purse of $4,000.
Ascot Brandy left quickest and took the lead before they had paced 100 yards. Delusionofgrandeur was parked outside trying for the top but Steve Wiseman backed Alcatraz Hanover out of the pocket just before the opening quarter and Rick Plano dropped Delusionofgrandeur in second.
Todd Ratchford, driving the eventual winner, came out of the three post and immediately dropped into fourth. They sat chilly until Alcatraz Hanover pulled first over just past the :583 half. At that point Ratchford put Chals Flame’s nose right on Wiseman’s hat second over.
Coming past the 1:273 three-quarters, Chals Flame tipped off Alcatraz Hanover’s cover three wide, then was forced four wide when Ascot Brandy spit the bit and drifted out, forcing Alcatraz Hanover and Chals Flame wider. This allowed Delusionofgrandeur to come up the pylons, but he faltered, probably from the exertion of the opening quarter.
Chals Flame easily won in a life-best 1:553 over Alcatraz Hanover and Delusionofgrandeur just did outlast Nincompoop for third.
Alan Horowitz and Harry Dasen, Jr. own the winner and Dasen trains him. He is a six-year-old altered son of Curbside, out of Broadway Melody, she by Broadway Express. Of all places he was bred in Minnesota (brrrrrrrrrrr) and is happy to be in warmer climes.