by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal Expo Harness

Sacramento, CA — Stueben Jumpinjack continues to do solid work at this year’s Cal Expo meeting for Gretchen Smith, as the Pacific Fella gelding has now posed for pictures following four of his last five trips to the post with James Kennedy giving directions on each occasion.

The water gets quite a bit deeper for the 5-year-old this weekend, as he steps up to the Invitational ranks. Looking to deny the sharp pacer are such heavyweights as It’s Getting Hairy and One And Only and well-regarded invaders Pancetta and Somethinginthewind.

Stueben Jumpinjack is owned in partnership by Smith and Maureen Pittaro and has been money in the bank when competing for a claiming tag at this session. He used his patented track-and-attack method to prove a punctual favorite last weekend and has earned a ticket to the rarified air of the Invite for this week’s go-around.

“Stueben is an awesome animal,” Smith related. “We bought him at a sale last November He had two starts for us, one being a win, before he tore a suspensory. We turned him out and gave him almost six months to heal. We brought him back slowly and it has paid off.”

Smith makes it clear that co-owner Pittaro is the secret weapon in this winning equation.

“Maureen has been a partner with me on a few horses over the past several years. She comes to the barn every single day and feeds Stu carrots and swears that is the secret to his success. It’s all in the carrots and love.

“She truly loves her horses and coming to visit them. Stueben has to be one of the easiest horses to work with I have ever had in my barn, from the stall all the way to track. He’s just a pleasure to be around.”