2-year-old ladies, on both gaits, were featured at Cal-Expo in $22,500 California Sires Stakes on Friday night (September 28), in which Smooth Jazz and My Fanny each made it five in a row.

In a non-wagering event held prior to the races for the filly trotters, Smooth Jazz would come away second from post-one in the field of six and would cut her own mile in the first-turn while four lengths off the lead into a :32 first-quarter.

Closing the gap at the three-eighths mile pole while now third, driver Tim Maier would moving the pacing bred (Tulane-Jazzplace-Artsplace) youngster to the outside while uncovered with 9-16ths of a mile to go.

Just taking over second by a nose while 2-3/4 lengths back at the half, timed in 1:03, Maier would move his charge into a loose pocket with 7-16’s of a mile to go.

With the field now at the three-quarter mile station, timed in 1:33.3, Smooth Jazz would find herself two-lengths behind Letter Of Intent (Bruce Clarke), who had made a move to the lead late in the second quarter.

Now out for the drive as the field entered the stretch, Smooth Jazz would quickly move up for the lead at the seven-eighths, but would also dive to the inside. As quickly though as she dived in, Maier would straighten out his talented lass and the pair would draw clear late to win my 3-1/4 lengths under moderate to light urging.

Owned by Margaret Rickard in partnership with co-breeder and trainer Denise Maier, Smooth Jazz would stop the timer at 2:03.4.

“I basically wanted to keep her out of trouble and everything worked out fine except for that little sideways thing she does sometimes and did tonight in the stretch,” said Maier. “She was as good as she has been and I’m grateful and happy that she won again.”

Letter of Intent was second, and Enscribe (Steve Desomer), who made two breaks, still was able to recover to be a well beaten third, another 39-3/4 lengths farther back.

The pacing gals completed the Sires Stakes action, and to no ones surprise, the 1-5 favorite My Fanny scored again.

Making the lead for Luke Plano to the first-turn from post-four in the field of seven, Plano would yield the front to Wooski (Rich Wojcio) after 3-16ths of a mile into a :29.1 opening quarter.

“Everything went about as smooth as I thought it would go,” said Plano. “I made the front and re-took, which I had planned to do, and the retake was easy on my horse.”

Moving back to the outside to the 5-16ths mile pole, My Fanny would quickly make it back to the lead just past the three-eighths mile marker, in which Plano would now control the tempo of the race while reaching the half-mile pole, timed in :58.3, with a strong tailwind at his back.

With the field now on the final-turn, Plano would ask his filly to go on.

“I let her pace a little bit midway through the final-turn and she responded alertly.”

Reaching the three-quarter mile marker, timed in 1:27, Plano would kick out the earplugs of his charge at the top of the stretch, but was unable to draw clear of the pocket sitting Wooski, who was now out for the drive to the seven-eighths mile pole.

“I was concerned when Wooski came at me and got along side of me in the lane, but my filly responded when Wooski got a little closer and would go on and race strong to the wire.”

Never letting Wooski get to any farther than her flank, My Fanny would nicely hold firm by two lengths. Bred and owned by Mary Ann Plano, and trained by Rick Plano, My Fanny would score in a lifetime best, 1:56.4.

“She seems like she’s getting better with every start,” concluded the young Plano.

For the elder Plano, the training victory was the first of four conditioning wins, of which the meets leading driver would sit behind three of them.

Wooski was second for the fifth straight start, and Cat Burgler (Etienne Desomer) finished another half length back, in third.

Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Saturday (September 29). Post-time is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. (PDT).