by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal Expo Harness

Sacramento, CA — The multiple stakes-winning pacing mare Haggin Oaks, who posed for pictures following 35 of her 116 starts while banking $165,335, has been retired and will get to work on being a mother next season.

The 8-year-old is by Hi Ho Silverheel’s out of the Incredible Finale mare Ladyladybemylady and set her mark of 1:52.3 last year in New York over the five-eighths-mile Tioga Downs oval.

Haggin Oaks was campaigned by Shari Burns, Ferris Funk and Jerry Cimini and was trained early in her career by Lester Smith before James Kennedy took over the duties, as well as being her regular pilot.

“We call her Liza, because her original name was Cherry Tree Liza,” Burns related. “She was bred by the late Alan Kirschenbaum and he decided to re-name all the yearlings that year after golf courses, which is how Haggin Oaks came about.”

Burns pointed out that in their 20-plus year friendship, Jerry Cimini and her husband Ferris had always wanted to campaign a horse together and couldn’t have found a better performer for the partnership.

“Liza was the last yearling left that year. She was a difficult 2- and 3-year-old and it took a lot of love and patience to make her a racehorse. I want to thank Jason Landers for keeping her feet in such great shape and that was not easy. Lester Smith also did a great job and has always been a big supporter of our farm.

“Of course, when James took out his trainer’s license, she was his first winner. For me, seeing the joy in my husband’s face and hearing the joy in Jerry’s conversations about this mare made it all worthwhile.

“It’s not too often someone gets the chance to own such a nice Cal-bred making well over $100,000 in California and we will now give her the life she deserves on the farm where she was born and raised. Hopefully she will produce a few more winners for Ferris and Jerry.”

Burns also noted the strong bond between Haggin Oaks and her driver/trainer Kennedy.

“After the race, the first thing James does when he gets out of the sulky is to walk up to her head and give her a big hug.”

On just about every occasion, she earned it.