by Mark Ratzky, Publicity — Cal Expo

Sacramento, CA — Satire is one of those hard-knocking performers who come to play each and every week at Cal Expo, employing a long-fused style that earns him his share of victories for Williams Hernandez and Matias Ruiz.

The Ruiz trainee had nine wins, seven seconds and 12 thirds from 45 trips to the post last season, and has recorded five victories and a like number of runner-up finishes from his 19 appearances this year. He’s just shy of $80,000 in earnings and sports a 1:53.3 standard.

In last week’s assignment, Satire put in his usual big finish, but Cycle Power had too much left on the front end and held him at bay. The latter is up in class to take on Keystone Eli and company in Saturday’s feature (May 28), while Satire returns at the same level in the evening’s fourth event.

“We bought this horse two years ago from Jason Ricco,” Ruiz informed. “He was coming from off the pace then, and we haven’t tried to change his style. It doesn’t take anything special to keep him happy, and he gives everything he has every time he goes out there.

“With his style, it has a lot to do with the pace, but there isn’t much that we can do about that. If they battle a little bit up front, you know that he’s going to be coming at the end.”

The Ruiz barn currently includes a dozen performers, which the trainer feels is just about the right number for his operation. At the end of next month, everybody will get a break.

“The horses will be going to the farm and we’ll be taking some time off,” he said. He added that no exact plans have been made, but some rest and relaxation are no doubt in the offing.

Keystone Eli Gets The Saturday Marquee Treatment At Cal Expo

Keystone Eli, who came within a neck of upsetting Pacinello in a big effort last week at Cal Expo, has top billing in Saturday night’s (May 28) $4,500 pacing feature. He will be challenged by Nittany Linebacker, Cycle Power, Ivegotwhatuneed and Haggin Oaks.

Keystone Eli is an 8-year-old son of Shady Character who races for Hei Mitchell, takes his lessons from Bob Johnson and has Lemoyne Svendsen guiding. He’s looking to add to a $241,000 bankroll and set his 1:51 standard as a sophomore.

After a couple of needed miles to kick off his 2011 campaign, Keystone Eli was sent down the highway in his most recent outing. He opened up two and a half lengths turning for home, held that same advantage at mid-stretch, but could not quite contain the flying Pacinello while finishing a length and a half in front of the rest of the field that evening.

No matter how thinks shake out early, the Mitchell color-bearer will be hard to deny, especially with Pacinello absent from the cast. He will do his work from the outside post in this compact line-up.

Nittany Linebacker was third in last week’s top dance for the pacing set and has to be respected. The 5-year-old son of Real Desire carries the banner of Billie Schwartz, Jim Wilkinson Jr. and Ads Up Racing Stable with Wilkinson the conditioner and Rich Wojcio in his usual position in the sulky.

Haggin Oaks is the only mare in the field and was a coast-to-coast winner two weeks ago with a softer group as the 3-5 favorite. A multiple stakes-winning daughter of Hi Ho Silverheels, she competes for the partnership of Burns, Funk and Cimini and will have trainer James Kennedy handling the lines.

Ivegotwhatuneed gives the Johnson barn two looks at the outcome and is the richest member of the cast with $272,000 in the bank and a 1:52 mark, while Cycle Power is up in class off a solid win for owner/trainer Nathalie Tremblay. A 14-race card is on tap, with the feature going as the second on the program.