by Scott Ehrlich, publicity director, Sacramento Harness Association

Sacramento, CA — It was the first time since October 19 of last year that he wasn’t in the Invitational, and Phipps made sure he took advantage of a rare class drop by posting a narrow victory.

Five conditioned trotters and one trotter in to be claimed, were spotlighted at Cal-Expo on Thursday night (August 2) in a $4,900 event, in which Phipps scored as he was supposed to.

Facing easier for the first time in his last 33 outings, and coming away in fourth into a first quarter timed in :29.1, part owner/trainer/driver Lou Pena would move his charge to the outside at the three-eighths-mile pole, but it wasn’t going to be easy as Gilbert Herrera, behind the pace-setting Final Choice, let out a notch on his trotter.

“I got concerned when I saw Gilbert ask his trotter to go on,” said Pena. “I knew I was going to have to work harder to make the front or to keep my horse up close in early contention.”

Moving up to third and 2-1/2 lengths back at the half-mile pole, timed in :58.2, Phipps would edge closer on the final turn, but Pena had other concerns.

“I was basically just trying to keep him together in the final turn because he doesn’t do the turn too well. When I saw Gilbert chase after his horse to the middle of the final turn and on, I knew I’d have my work cut out a little more than normal because when they go a fast third quarter, it makes it tougher for my horse to make the last turn.”

Now only three-quarters of a length back at the three-quarter-mile marker, timed in 1:27.3, Pena was confident, but with a provision.

“I had a pretty good grip of him at the three-quarters, so I thought my chances were good as long as I could keep him steady because he’s capable of running.”

Trotting into a slim lead at the seven-eighths-mile pole and under a high-line for the final sixteenth of a mile, Phipps would receive a strong challenge in deep stretch from Easter Call (John Chappell), his entrymate.

“My horse felt good because he didn’t want to quit, but I did get concerned coming to the wire that Easter Call was going to get me. My horse, however, had his ‘mean-eye’ look, so I knew he was going to hold him off — and he just did.”

Owned in partnership with Pena by Wade Miller, Phipps would just hold on to win ($3.20) by a nose, in 1:58, his 27th career victory. Easter Call just missed while getting the place honors, and Final Choice finished another 2-1/2 lengths farther back in third.

“The class drop was a bonus and he always races as game as he possibly can physically,” Pena concluded.

Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Friday (August 3) and continue through Saturday. Post time on Friday and Saturday is at 6:30 p.m. (PDT). On Friday, Cal-Expo offers Happy Hour between 6:00-8:00 p.m., where $1 beer, $2 wine and 25-cent buffalo wings are offered.

Cal-Expo offers guaranteed $10,000 pools on all Pick-4’s!