by Scott Ehrlich, Publicity Director, Sacramento Harness Association

He ended up racing in a spot his driver didn’t want, but Axelrod was up to the task and wouldn’t be denied.

Freshmen boys hooked up in a $22,500 California Sires Stakes on Saturday (September 16) at Cal-Expo Raceway, in which Axelrod prevailed.

Prior to starting from post-position one in the field of five, driver Jim Lackey knew his horse fit in very well.

“It looked like there were three good horses in there,” said Lackey. “My horse, Endofanera (Lou Pena), and Long Last Look (Ed Hensley). These three horses were across the track in their last race on September 2, and there wasn’t much separating them this time. My strategy was to let him leave a little bit and see how things played out, but I wasn’t going to get crazy.”

Leaving sharply to get the lead, Axelrod yielded in the middle of the first-turn, but was right back out after the field had traveled a little more than 3/16 of a mile.

“I sort of outsmarted myself because I thought Louie (Pena) would use the same strategy with Endofanera that he used in their last, which was to make a big second-quarter move. But as it turned out, Louie raced his horse from behind.”

Drawing even at the quarter-mile pole, timed in 28.4, and quickly moving up for the lead, Axelrod basically two-moved to the top, reaching that point at the 5/16 mile pole, but not to the liking of Lackey.

“I didn’t like, nor wanted to be on the lead; but like I said, I thought Louie was going to move Endofanera in the second-quarter, but he didn’t and that wasn’t good for me. Having said that, my lead wasn’t really that tough.”

Reaching the half-mile pole, timed in a comfortable 58.4, Lackey had reason to be pleased, while at the same time concerned.

“It was nice to get a breather in the second-quarter, but my horse didn’t have much hold of the bit, and you’d like them to have a little hold of you. As a result, I was unsure of my chances at that point.”

With the field 7/16 of a mile from home, Lackey saw fit to tap his charge a few times.

“I thought he had gotten a decent breather, so I figured it was time to go to work, and he picked up the bit when I asked him.”

With the field now approaching the three-quarter mile pole, Endofanera was now brushing up sharply on the rim, which prompted Lackey to urge his pacer some more, all while not giving Lackey the best of feelings.

“I thought there was a good chance that Endofanera would go right by me.”

With Axelrod reaching the three-quarter mile pole, timed in 1:27.4, Lackey couldn’t predict the outcome for his horse.

“It was hard to tell how he’d do in the lane, but he did show some toughness on the lead in the start he won on August 18. But I still didn’t know whether he’d get out-brushed, or what would happen.”

With the field now approaching the top of the stretch, luck may have been on the side of Axelrod when Long Last Look pocket-pulled, which in turn saw Endofanera lose some of his momentum, while now racing three-wide.

“When Long Last Look pulled the pocket past the three-quarter mile pole, it certainly hurt Endofanera, which indirectly helped me.”

With the field now headed home, Lackey went to work on Axelrod, and the results were good, as Axelrod dug in.

“He did hang tough; they were right there close by and he dug down. You know, sometimes you lose a little speed on your fastball late in the game, but this horse was still pitching (trying hard) with good velocity. It was nip and tuck to the wire.”

Owned by the partnership of Ads Up Racing, David Rachford, and JW Standardbreds, the Jim Wilkenson Jr trained gelding held firm to win by a length and one-quarter in a time of 1:56.1, a lifetime best.

“I was the recipient of some good fortune, in that Endofanera and Long Last Look had some traffic in the final quarter, but my horse still fought hard and gave an honest effort, especially considering I didn’t want to be on the lead,” Lackey concluded.

Endofanera finished in second, and Long Last Look finished another length back, in third.

The evening started with a non-wagering $22,500 California Sires Stakes for two year-old trotting boys, in which Hitchiker made it two for two in his career.

Bred and owned by the Desomer Stables, and trained by Vickie Desomer, Hitchiker crushed his foes for driver Tien Desomer, romping by nine lengths, while stopping the timer at 2:00. Putoneonnetformom (Rick Plano) was clearly second best, while Top Site (Steve Desomer) finished a distant third, another eleven and three-quarter lengths farther back.

Free For All pacers exchanged blows in quest of a purse of $12,500, in which Coppertone made every pole a winning one for trainer and driver Rocky Stidham.

Setting splits of 27.1, then a well-rated 29.2 second-quarter mile while reaching the half-mile pole in :56.3, Coppertone picked up the pace in the third-quarter mile, reaching the three-quarter mile pole in 1:24.2. For the final-quarter mile, Coppertone held tough to record his fifth win in-a-row for owner Mike Brown. Derek Bromac (Lou Pena) was a good second, and Tail Gunner (Bruce Clarke) was another length and three-quarters lengths back, in third.

Live racing resumes at Cal-Expo on Thursday, continuing through Saturday. Post-time on Thursday is at 5:35 (PDT). First post on Friday and Saturday is at 6:20 (PDT).

Guaranteed Late Pick-4 pool every Friday and Saturday

Sacramento Harness Association at Cal-Expo continues to offer a $20,000 (guar.) Late Pick-4 pool every Friday and Saturday, on races seven through 10.