by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal Expo Harness

Sacramento, CA — JamesKennedy recorded a consecutive driving hat trick here last Friday (Nov. 18),guiding his own trainee I’m An Athlete to victory in the Open II pace, followedby a score behind Scooters Lady and then completing the triple with The BeardedLady in the featured Annette Funicello Final.

Interestingly, all three winscame from a tracking journey and each race saw Kennedy coming away at the endwhile rewarding the chalk players on each occasion.

I’m An Athlete races for RonRettig-Zeucchi and was getting come class relief after racing in the Open I inhis previous three outings here; Scooter Lady is owned and trained by MarcoRios and was graduating in her eighth start; while The Bearded Lady put in herpatented late move to prove clearly best in the Funicello at 60 cents on thedollar.

“I’ve had I’m An Athlete fortwo years now and while it helped to get some class relief, he went a realstrong mile. It should give him some confidence when we move back up to the toplevel.

“I’d only driven ScootersLady once before and she gave me a real good finish that night, so I thought wehad a great chance with the right trip. It worked out for her to be second overand she delivered.”

Kennedy kept the momentumgoing with The Bearded Lady in the evening’s feature while making it two in therow with the daughter of Mach Tree. “Let’s just say she’s unique, because sheis very mouthy and needs the softest touch possible.

“If you noticed, I kept heroff the gate so she would be able to relax, because she isn’t nearly as good onthe front end. She gave me another strong finish and was pretty impressive.”

Flameon, Silverlodebattle in main event

Flameon and Silverlode, whohave been trading punches at the head of the class, get another chance tosettle the score in Friday (Nov. 25) night’s featured $6,000 Open Trot.

A 13-race card will bepresented under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post set for 6:10p.m. The headliner will go as the third event on the evening.

Flameon and Silverlode havebeen assigned the outside two posts in the field of six, respectively, withChip Lackey once again guiding the former while Silverlode will again have theservices of Luke Plano.

The hard-hitting pair havemet twice at this young stand, with Silverlode going coast-to-coast in the October29 Open and holding safe by a head, while Flameon prevailed by a neck after afirst-over trip in the most recent top dance two weeks ago.

Flameon is a 6-year-old sonof Angus Hall who is owned by Mark Anderson and hails from the Gordie Graham barn,while Silverlode is Desomer Stables homebred daughter of British Sterling.

Rounding out the field, fromthe rail out, are the Kennedy Lindsey-conditioned Kickinitwithkohler; TheLehigh Legend from the Gene Vallandingham shedrow; the Sparky Clarke-trainedZoraze; and Windsun Galaxie, who takes his lessons from Lino Pacheco.