by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — After posting a 16-1 upset in his first start for the Larry Hastings barn, D Man will try for a curtain call at Cal Expo in Saturday night’s (May 21) eighth race while drawing another outside post and taking on a tougher group.

Hastings has had the Maurice Sigmon color-bearer since March, putting a couple of qualifiers into the 4-year-old son of Armbro Tropicana before sending him out last weekend. Steve Wiseman left smartly with the trotter, settled into a pocket journey and posted a 1-1/2 length score.

“The first thing I did when I got him was to turn him out for three weeks,” Hastings related. “He had some issues with his front feet and could use the time. This little horse doesn’t need much in the way of equipment, and I want to make sure to give plenty of credit to my farrier Johnny Walker, who does a great job.”

Larry had been working with D Man at the gate, and instead of easing him to the start, he was being aggressive with the trotter.

“I had him with his nose right on the gate, and I told Steve to put him right up on there and go with him. He was able to work out a perfect trip and got it done.

“Unfortunately, we drew the eight post again and the field is a little tougher, but there’s nothing we can do about that and we’ll just have to see what happens.”

Sire Stakes holding Saturday spotlight

A pair of $15,000 California Sire Stakes for the 3-year-old colts featuring Shamderock and Lodi Nickolus are the main attractions at Cal Expo on Saturday evening. The stakes races will go as non-betting events prior to the regular program.

D&E Racing Inc. and Rick Plano are well represented in the Sire Stakes for the pacing colts with Shamderock, a 3-year-old homebred son of Hi Ho Silverheel’s. He has rattled off seven straight victories, lowering his mark to 1:54 with last week’s score in a conditioned event.

After sweeping the four big-money events for the division last season, Shamderock has been just as dominating in the three stakes clashes this season. He captured the first one by 14 lengths, the second by eight lengths and the most recent by 2-1/4 in facile fashion.

Taking him on are a trio from the Vickie Desomer barn in Achy Breaky Art (Steve Wiseman), No Strings (Steve Desomer) and Spoons (Lemoyne Svendsen) and Badger Creek with Harold Herrera.

Among the trotting colts, Lodi Nickolus comes into this event having taken two of the three stakes dances this year. Final Chapter won the other and captured the championship last November, while Im So Sulky was a three-time stakes winner last season but is looking for the initial trophy of 2011.

Lodi Nickolus is owned Mary Harris and Pierre Girard with Girard doing the driving and training, while Final Chapter races for Desomer Stables with Steve Desomer in the bike. Im So Sulky is owned Jack Coffey and Traci Camilli, hails from the Bob Johnson barn and has Rich Wojcio guiding.

Wayne and Rod Knittel’s Haveadrink On Me completes the field with Rick Plano.

Live racing resumes at Cal Expo on Thursday (May 19) and continues through Saturday (May 21). Post time on Thursday is 5:30 p.m. (PDT). Post time on Friday and Saturday is 6 p.m.