by Scott Ehrlich, publicity, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — He had an equipment malfunction at the top of the stretch, but that still couldn’t stop Devilish Donnie from repeating.

Claiming handicap pacers, racing for a $6,300 purse, that were in to be claimed from $15,000 to $20,000, were featured on Thursday night (April 17) at Cal-Expo, on which Devilish Donnie was well-rated to his 35th career victory.

Firing out for the lead for trainer Rocky Stidham from post position four in the field of six, the 7-year-old gelding, as a result of the speedy Mac Jonathan VP (Lou Pena) getting ducked, would get an easy lead before the field had entered the first turn. Was Stidham, at the quarter pole, timed in a quick :28.2, surprised by the change in tactics by Mac Jonathan VP?

“It really didn’t surprise me that Mac Jonathan VP didn’t leave because Louie (Pena) will do that. This meant that I had to go to Plan B, which was to get the lead and rate the best possible mile I could.”

Receiving no second quarter pressure, Devilish Donnie would get away with an easy :29.2 quarter while reaching the half-mile pole, timed in a soft :57.4.

“I was pretty positive at the half that my horse would have a lot left off the easy first half. My biggest concern entering the second half, however, was that Luke Plano (Wildest Dream) specifically, was on my back. Luke has followed Devilish Donnie and me a lot with other horses and has sometimes beaten me in the past. So, I was hoping to slip him a curve ball in which I would find the right time to ask my horse to go while at the same time Wildest Dream wouldn’t be ready to go.”

Under a good hold on to the final turn as well as at the three-quarter marker, timed in 1:26.3, Stidham knew the light was about to turn green.

“I had decided to wait until the first-over horse (Blissfull Winds/Steve Wiseman) got to my wheel. Once he did past the three-quarters, it was then time to sprint and go.”

With Blissfull Winds now at the wheel of Devilish Donnie, Stidham went to kick out the earplugs of his charge, but ‘Houston, we have a problem.’

“On April 5, Blissfull Winds beat me and Devilish Donnie, so when we entered the lane tonight, I knew he had a good shot of winning. Then, when I tried to kick out the earplugs, they got stuck in the over-check and never came out. This concerned me a little because it distracted me, plus I think it scared Devilish Donnie.”

Now under a drive, Devilish Donnie would simply refuse to let Blissfull Winds gain anymore on him, thus going on to score ($4.40) in a :27.4 final quarter by 1-1/2 lengths. Owned by Cliff Shurman in partnership with Stidham, Devilish Donnie would win in 1:54.2, thus giving Stidham the middle portion of a training/driving triple. Blissfull Winds was a good second, and Wildest Dream finished another half-length farther back in third.

“With those easy fractions, he has a real good kick to him. He was as sharp as he has been,” Stidham concluded.

Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Friday (April 18) at 6:15 p.m. (PDT) and on Saturday (April 19) at 5:50 p.m. On Friday, Cal-Expo offers Happy Hour between 6:00-8:00 p.m., where $1 beer, $2 wine and $3 orders of buffalo wings are offered.

The Pick-Six at Cal-Expo is now a $1 wager.