by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — After having to settle for a third place check in the first California Sire Stakes at the current Cal Expo meet for the sophomore pacing fillies, Dine N Wine apologized big time in the most recent stakes gathering last week and won going away while returning $9 to those who continued to have faith.

The diminutive daughter of Power Of Art and Bordeaux Franco N goes about her business for Team Desomer and has been guided in her big-money appearances at this stand by Steve Wiseman.

Sitting fourth in the early stages of the last stakes match-up, Wiseman related he didn’t want to get stuck in the hole and decided to move early with Dine N Wine, who is normally a long-fused type. They took command on the final turn and left no doubt in the stretch, reporting home with 3-1/4 lengths to spare.

“This is a little horse with a big heart, who is out of a 100 percent producer,” related trainer Vickie Desomer when asked about the filly, who has now won five times from 16 appearances on the season. “A very good drive by Steve Wiseman certainly helped the cause.”

For the record, Bordeaux Franco N was a 1:54.1 performer after coming from her native New Zealand. In addition to Dine N Wine, she has produced Dayahana, a 1:53.3 winner; Grey Frier, who has a 1:54.2 standard; and the ill-fated Bordgame, 1:55.3, who unfortunately didn’t get the chance to continue his career.

Sire Stakes for colts headline Saturday Cal Expo program

Two $15,000 California Sire Stakes for the 2-year-olds are on at Cal Expo Saturday evening (Nov. 19). Ra Ra Steven looks for his third trophy in the pacing end with Hollywood Star and Bloom N Doom in close pursuit, while El Azteca attempts to complete a clean sweep of the big-money events for the trotting set.

Ra Ra Steven has captured two stakes dances at this meet for the young pacing colts and just missed in the other after carving out all the fractions. The Little Steven homebred races for the partnership of Billie Schwartz, Jim Wilkinson, Jr. and David Rachford with Wilkinson the conditioner and Rich Wojcio once again handling the lines.

An easy coast-to-coast victor in the initial big-money gathering on Oct. 8, Ra Ra Steven tried similar tactics in the next stakes and was nailed by the pocket-sitting Bloom N Doom. He made all the pace in the most recent one two weeks ago over a good track, holding safe by a nose over Hollywood Star.

The latter is another son of Little Steven who is owned and was bred by Alan Kirschenbaum and Sheldon Perry with Bob Johnson the conditioner and Lemoyne Svendsen guiding. He romped in his Oct. 27 debut and lost a heartbreaker in that Nov. 5 stakes after making up quite a bit of ground in the final eighth of a mile.

Bloom N Doom accounted for that Oct. 22 Sire Stakes in a very impressive debut and was third in the last one after coming first-over into Ra Ra Steven. The Hi Ho Silverheel’s homebred races for Wayne and Rod Knittel and gives trainer Johnson another strong look at the outcome with Bruce Clarke in the bike.

Little Tor rounds out the cast with Luke Plano at the helm.

El Azteca is strictly the one to beat in the trot for his owner/breeder/driver/trainer Marco Rios after three straight dominating stakes scores. Taking on the streaking son of Panama Hanover are High Dollar with Steve Wiseman; Light Red, Lemoyne Svendsen; Loose Cannon and Lees Persuader.

Live racing resumes at Cal Expo on Thursday (Nov. 17) at 5:30 p.m. (PST) and continues on Friday (Nov. 18) and Saturday (Nov. 19) at 6 p.m. Next week will find an abbreviated schedule, with programs on Friday and Saturday, but no racing on Thanksgiving. The regular three-night schedule will resume on Thursday (Dec. 1) and continues through Dec. 18.