by Scott Ehrlich, publicity director, Sacramento Harness Association

Sacramento, CA — She moved earlier than she had in her last two starts when she won, but that didn’t stop Capeous N from getting the hat trick.

Conditioned distaffers, racing for a purse of $4,900 at Cal-Expo on Wednesday (March 21), started off the racing week in the spotlight, in which Capeous N was too strong once again.

Before starting from post position four in the field of six, driver Rocky Stidham obviously had reason to be positive.

“With her coming off two in a row, and racing tonight pretty much in the same class, I thought she had a good shot,” said Stidham. “I thought the strong winds would help her because she can take a lot of air, which would allow me to have her in good position for the tailwind in the stretch.”

Coming away in fourth position while five lengths back at the quarter-mile pole, timed in :27.3, Stidham knew what was forthcoming.

“I felt like I would probably have to pull first-over because of the fast first quarter, plus Charter Ridge (Scott Cisco) was on the lead and being that she’s not a very big mare while having to fight the strong headwind on the backside, combined with her preferring not to be on the lead, made me feel Scott would let me go if I wanted the front.”

With the pace dramatically slowing up in the second quarter, Stidham moved his charge first-over at the 7-16ths pole and had her brushing, while at the same time kicking out her earplugs.

“She responded well and went into another gear when I popped the plugs. I was hoping that I’d clear because I knew that Dayahana (Rick Plano) and Jessalilbit (Ed Hensley) would be following me and would get good trips if I didn’t clear. So, in clearing, I knew at least one of them would be first-up.”

All but drawing even at the half-mile pole, timed in :59.3, Stidham was pleased.

“I was happy with the first half time, and with the slow :32 second quarter. When I made the lead, I didn’t really use her as much as you would think.”

Clearing to that lead just past the 9-16ths pole, Capeous N would receive immediate pressure from Dayahana — who was at her wheel.

“I was hoping at that point that Dayahana would stay on the outside, but when Charter Ridge broke in the pocket to the five-eighths-mile pole, this concerned me because it allowed Dayahana in the pocket past the five-eighths, which would now give her a pretty good trip.”

Receiving no outside pressure for the balance of the final turn, Capeous N would trip the three-quarter timer at 1:28.2.

“At that point it was just drive on and hope I had enough horse to get there.”

Given a good left side wheel-disc urge to the top of the stretch, Stidham got the response he was hoping for.

“She paid attention and paced forward.”

Drawing clear by two lengths at the top of the stretch while now under some urging, Capeous N looked to have major competition at the seven-eighths pole when Jessalilbit was rallying up nicely, but Stidham was confident.

“I wasn’t really concerned because my horse still felt pretty good.”

Indeed she felt good, as Capeous N never let Jessalilbit get close, while winning by a dominant two lengths. Owned by the Summersby Stable, and trained by Janie Sullivan, Capeous N ($3.60) stopped the timer at 1:56. Dayahana came back late to be second, and Jessalilbit flattened-out late, while another half length farther back in third.

“She paced strongly through the wire in another good race giving her three in a row. She’s on a good streak right now,” Stidham finished.

Live racing resumes at Cal-Expo on Thursday, March 22, continuing through Saturday. Post time each night is at 5:35 p.m. (PDT). On Thursday, Cal-Expo offers Fiesta Thursdays, in which fans can enjoy $2.00 frozen margaritas and tacos.

Cal-Expo now offers guaranteed $10,000 pools on all Pick-4’s and the New Pick-5!