by Scott Ehrlich, publicity director, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Sophomore ladies were featured at Cal Expo on Friday night (Nov. 26) in a pair of $15,000 California Sires Stakes, in which Betty Elizabeth got a grand slam and Gee Up upset the applecart.

In the first of the two divisions, this for the trotters in a non-wagering event prior to the betting card, Betty Elizabeth continued her domination.

Leaving to get around a slow foe from post five in the field of the same number and dropping in fourth just before the field had traveled an eighth of a mile into a :30 first quarter, the filly stayed put for driver Steve Wiseman until pulling first-over at the half-mile juncture, timed in 1:01.2.

Dropping into the three hole to the five-eighths-mile pole, then back out uncovered just past the midway point of the final turn, Wiseman had his charge moving quickly at the three-quarter-mile station, timed in 1:31.2.

Taking over the lead with a rush with 3-16ths of a mile to go, the daughter of Panama Hanover drew clear by 2-1/2 lengths to the seven-eighths-mile pole under light urging, then wouldn’t be caught under minor urging until late.

Bred, owned and trained by Lisa Pilcher, Betty Elizabeth won by 2-3/4 lengths, in 2:01.2, thus winning her fourth straight Sires Stakes. Cash Creek (Tim Maier) finished in second and the pacesetting Acapulco Gold (Rocky Stidham) finished another 1-1/4 lengths farther back in third.

“I just sat and waited and came with her like I did two weeks ago in her last Sires Stakes,” said Wiseman. “She raced very well and it was a very good race for her. She continues to race well and we have one more Sires Stakes to go — the championship final.”

In the second and final division, this on the wagering card for the pacers, Gee Up blew up the toteboard.

In advance of starting from post position seven in the field of eight, driver Etienne Desomer was blunt about his chances.

“I was just planning on following around, hoping to get a little room in the stretch, and hoping to get a check,” stated Desomer.

Coming away sixth through first half fractions of :28.4 and :58.2, the filly advanced some past the five-eighths-mile marker, but still found herself 6-1/2 lengths back at the three-quarter-mile pole, timed in 1:27, while racing in fifth.

“When Deal Me In (Dave Siegel) pulled on the final turn and backed up She Is So Glad (Rich Wojcio) and the inside opened up, I thought it gave me a good shot at getting a check because I was able to advance, but anything past that I would be in shock.”

Staying inside into the lane and gaining with an eighth of a mile to go, Desomer wasn’t convinced yet.

“I was surprised I was passing the horses that I was and was figuring I was getting lucky because of a slow final quarter, but I was glad they were slowing down and that I just happened to be the most unused horse in the race.”

Now under urging and flying with a sixteenth of a mile to go, Desomer finally had good reason to be optimistic.

“In the last sixteenth I thought I could win and as it turns out she finished strong and pulled off the shocker.”

Bred and owned by the Desomer Stables and trained by Vickie Desomer, the daughter of Power Of Art got up just to the wire to win by a neck in a lifetime best 1:57.1 while returning a whopping win mutuel of $149.00 to her backers. The pocket sitting Just Plum Lucky (Luke Plano) had to settle for second and the pacesetting One Hot Tamale (Rick Plano) finished 2-1/2 lengths farther back in third.

“It set up for me perfectly and for that to happen in a $15,000 Sires Stakes works for me,” stated Desomer.

The Turkey Trot Final for a purse of $7,700 was also contested on the card, in which Cherry Tree Nicole got the hat trick.

Coming away in sixth position from post six in the field of nine for trainer Tim Maier, the 4-year-old gapped and cut her own mile as a result of a speedy :57.3 first half.

Closing the gap and three-wide at the five-eighths-mile station into a 1:29.3 three-quarters, the daughter of British Sterling went on to close nicely as usual to win ($4.20) by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:59.4. The Tim Maier trained Cherry Tree Rojo (Rich Wojcio) finished in second and Sad Parting (Luke Plano) finished a head back in third.

Live racing continues at Cal Expo on Saturday (Nov. 27) at 5:40 p.m. (PST).