Jonjon Thundertrot wins at Cal-Expo
March 27, 2004,from Cal-Expo Raceway
Sacramento, CA — Cal-Expo was under cloudy skies Friday night, March 26, but rain was not in the forecast. The rain of Thursday afternoon and the sloppy track that night was just a memory as Capitol Racing’s marvelous track crew had worked the night and into Friday afternoon to get the track ready for the Friday night races. They were rewarded with a fast track.
The feature trot spotlighted nine conditioned trotters racing for a share of the $5,500 purse. This was a very competitive field and Aspiring Son N was sent off the lukewarm 5-2 favorite. Jonjon Thundertrot, 6-1 on the morning line, was sent to post at 7-2 and a second-over trip brought him home the winner in 1:591.
Mike Murphy came out of the gate quickest with Egocentric, but Richard Wojcio was coming on the outside with Onomatopoeia and he was second to reach the pylons as leader.
Just past the :294 opening quarter, Brother Paul came overland and took the lead. Midway down the backstretch Tim Twaddle tipped Jonjon Thundertrot out and floated up the outside looking for cover. Daryl Bier, sitting fourth with Aspiring Son, obliged and came first over.
The half passed in 1:00 flat and when the field reached the 1:30 three-quarters it was double decked. Brother Paul had now had enough and that allowed Aspiring Son to take a short-lived lead. Jonjon Thundertrot came off his cover and quickly got his head in front.
Wojcio, who was now trapped on the pylons, had to pull Onomatopoeia out, then come back in, thereby making a perfect ‘S’, as Rick Kuebler now had KD Justice flying on the outside.
In a driving three horse finish, Jonjon Thundertrot held on for the win by a neck with KD Justice another neck in front of Onomatopoeia.
Tim Twaddle also owns and trains the winner. He is a strapping six-year-old Garland Lobell stallion out of the Speed Bowl dam Ha Ha Ewe Louz, the namer of whom obviously loves to laugh. This was Jonjon Thundertrot’s second win in 12 2004 starts.
Correction: In the Friday, March 26th report it was incorrectly stated that Hi Ho Silverheel’s now stands in Indiana. In fact, he is standing this season at KB Farms in Bakersfield.