by Mark Ratzky, publicity department, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Jess Or No, who has won his share of races over the last couple of years when he doesn’t make a miscue, gets the top billing in Thursday night’s (March 13) main event at Cal-Expo. The race is designed for trotters who are carrying base claiming prices of $20,000 while competing for a $6,300 purse.

A 5-year-old California-bred son of British Sterling and the Hunter’s Star mare Hunting For Gold, Jess Or No is owned by Jessica Hensley and is trained and driven by husband Ed. He comes into Thursday’s assignment with $135,000 in his account and is coming off a lifetime best 1:56.1 performance.

Last season saw the trotter clicking in eight of his 35 outings. Interestingly, he had no runner-up finishes, yet had 10 races where he picked up the show money. This year he has three snapshots from 10 trips to the post, while showing breaks in three of those contests.

Jess Or No picked up his initial win of 2008 in a conditioned affair in the slop back on January 31, looping the leaders with a big move to be going away at the end. His next tally also came in the goo on February 22, as he showed his versatility by making two moves to the lead and then gamely holding safe by a neck over Howwilddoyawantme.

After going off-stride on the final bend two weeks ago, the Hensley performer was on his best behavior for his most recent tour, where he was sent off the 7-2 second choice. He sat a perfect tracking trip, attacked once when straightened for home and prevailed by 1-1/4 lengths, with the 1:56.1 final clocking shaving four-fifths of a second off his previous mark.

Cherry Tree Luke completed the exacta behind Jess Or No last week and will attempt to turn the tables for the combination of owner Clint Lugar, trainer Lou Pena and pilot Jim Lackey. He has $125,000 in earnings, a 1:57.3 mark, and is looking for his fourth victory from 11 trips to the post this season.

Cherry Tree Luke picked up his most recent win on February 11, as he made every pole a winning one over a slightly softer group to make it two straight trips to the charmed enclosure. He has had to be happy with minor awards in the interim, coming away with two seconds, a third and a fourth-place finish.

Ailene’s Prince has already registered eight victories this season from 11 attempts and was hard-used early as the favorite with this group last time. Lemoyne Svendsen guides the Mary Harris color-bearer for trainer Kennedy Lindsey.

Appreciating this trotting mare

APR has proven to be the gift that keeps on giving for Scott and Debbie U’Ren and conditioner James Turton, hitting the board in 25 of her 45 appearances last year and rattling off a hat trick between February 11 and 25 this season with Scott in the bike.

“We purchased her in December of ’06 at the Harrington sale and she was a maiden at the time,” U’Ren related when asked about the trotting daughter of Master Lavec. “She’d gone some miles in 2:00 and she seemed to have some class. We thought she’d fit pretty well out here.”

APR has banked just shy of $50,000 and sports a 1:58.2 career standard, which was established in the middle of her three-bagger last month. In each of those victories she did the track and attack to perfection, and since moving up the ladder for her last pair, she has recorded a close fourth and a runner-up finish last week behind a very strong Final Choice.

“The race two back, a horse broke in front of us and cost us at least one placing,” Scott said. “Her last race she sat second behind Final Choice (in a 1:56.1 mile) and we couldn’t get to him, but it was certainly no disgrace because Gilbert (Herrera) really had his trotter going that night.”

Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Thursday (March 13) at 6:00 p.m. (PDT), and will continue through Saturday (March 15). Post time on Friday and Saturday night is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. On Thursday, Cal-Expo offers Fiesta Thursdays, in which fans can enjoy $2.00 frozen margaritas and tacos!

The Pick-6 at Cal-Expo is now a $1 wager!