Mitchell Paul an upset winner at Cal-Expo
March 21, 2004,from Cal-Expo Raceway
Sacramento, CA — Neptune All Night was looking for five wins in a row on Saturday night, March 20, at Cal-Expo and came within a nose of making it. The spoiler was Mitchell Paul, driven by Todd Ratchford for Emmett Nulty, Jean MacDonell and Eileen Brodbar. The event was a pace for $25,000 to $35,000 claimers racing for a purse of $7,200.
Neptune All Night and Mitchell Paul battled for the lead with the latter getting to the pylons first just past the :281 opener. Gilbert Garcia kept driving Neptune All Night for the top and made it with five-eighths still to pace. The half came in :562.
Lou Pena came calling up the outside with EZ, but Neptune All Night was having none of that and kept him parked around the bend. The three-quarters passed in 1:251 with Mitchell Paul locked in the pocket.
With an eight left to race, EZ hit a wall and faded allowing Mitchell Paul to get out and he wore down the leader in a desperate drive to the wire to win by a nose in 1:532. Rick Plano got Jay Bees Trump N up for third.
Ratchford also trains the winner, who is a six-year-old gelding by Drop Off, out of the Paris Dexter mare Dexter’s Wine. He has now won just over $126,500 life.