by Scott Ehrlich, publicity, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — A drop down in class and not getting hooked up in a speed duel resulted in a solid victory for Mac Jonathan VP.

Claiming handicap pacers, in to be claimed from $15,000 to $20,000, were featured at Cal-Expo for a purse of $6,300 on Thursday night (May 1), on which Mac Jonathan VP presided over his opponents.

In advance of starting from post position five in the field of seven, trainer Lou Pena had no worries despite the fact that potentially four of his six foes could leave for the lead along with his charge.

“I wasn’t concerned about the speed in the race because he’s fast out of the gate — which is good because I like to get him in the race early,” said Pena. “I thought his chances were pretty good.”

Leaving and getting the lead an eighth of a mile after the start, Mac Jonathan VP would yield the lead to Deep Red (Rocky Stidham) just before the field had traveled 3-16ths of a mile into a :28.1 opening quarter.

“I was happy with my position at the quarter because it looked like Deep Red was comfortable — which was good.”

Sitting a loose pocket throughout most of the second quarter until closing the gap just to the half-mile pole, timed in :57.2, Mac Jonathan VP would get flushed from the pocket to the middle of the final turn.

“I was looking around on the last turn to see who was coming first-over and I saw that it was Clambake (Lemoyne Svendsen). I figured I’d better pull now before everybody came.”

Now just three-quarters of a length back on the rim at the three-quarter station, timed in 1:26.2, Pena knew good things were about to happen.

“I thought as soon as we straightened up that I was going right by.”

Taking the lead with just less than 3-16ths of a mile to go, Pena would urge his gelding at the seven-eighths pole, and got the response he wanted.

“He responded very nicely when I urged him and he was very handy in winning.”

Owned by the partnership of Dave Siegel, Bob Thronson, Greg Robinson and Richard Michael, Mac Jonathan VP wouldn’t be caught in the lane while on his way to a 1-1/4 length win ($6.00) in 1:54, his 21st career triumph. Machine Maker (James Kennedy) rallied nicely to be second and Wildest Dream (Rick Plano) finished another length back in third.

“It was an excellent effort,” Pena concluded.

Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Friday (May 2) at 6:15 p.m. (PDT) and on Saturday (May 3) at 6:20 p.m. On Friday, Cal-Expo offers Happy Hour between 6:00-8:00 p.m., where $1 beer, $2 wine and $3 orders of buffalo wings are offered. Also on Friday, fans at Cal-Expo can advance wager on the Kentucky Derby.

The Pick-Six at Cal-Expo is now a $1 wager.